2015 Playoffs – MLS Cup Report

If you’re a follower of this blog, that means you’re a fan of the league, which means you probably watched the game on Sunday.  Maybe you were there, like I was.  Assuming all of that, you know the score and how things went, so here are details from our Cleveland-centric point-of-view.

MLS Cup XX
COLUMBUS CREW SC  1-2  PORTLAND TIMBERS FC  •  @ MAPFRE Stadium
Brad Stuver [Twinsburg/Twinsburg] was the backup goalie for the Black and Gold and Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] did not dress.  On the winning side, Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] started and played all 90.  Michael Nanchoff [North Royalton/Walsh Jesuit] and Ben Zemanski [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] did not dress for the game.

Here are four thoughts I had while at the game and/or watching the game again once I got home and/or in the days following the game:

1.  Someone who doesn’t really know soccer might say that “Nagbe really didn’t do anything during the game.”  In truth he did a LOT.  We all know that stats don’t always tell the story in soccer, and when you look the fact he only took one shot, and he only attempted 37 passes – out of Portland’s 312 total – that’s not a lot for a guy with his ability to change a game.  But it was pretty clear that his role on the day was more about trying to keep Justin Meram quiet and he did such a good job of it that Meram was subbed out in the 78th minute.  The vision of him chasing down the fresh-legged Cedric Mabwati – who had a ten-yard head start – late in the second half to beat him to a through ball and win possession.  I’m not sure Nagbe gets enough credit for the work he does defensively, and his work was incredibly important and nearly perfect on Sunday.  That’s sometimes harder to notice than the goals he creates.
2. Our seats were in the corner of MAPFRE Stadium, just above the tunnel.  The Timbers who didn’t dress for the game were in a tent up above us on the concourse.  You should have seen those guys laughing and celebrating and partying after that first goal went in.  Several of them had a look on their face that said, “OMG! We are going to win this game!”  That’s something I’ll never forget.
3. I’m going to take off my objective journalist hat for a second here…  It’s been over-discussed that the assistant ref made a mistake and should’ve called that ball out that began the Timbers’ second goal.  It’s also been over-discussed that “you don’t stop playing until the whistle,” and that the Crew made a bunch of errors from that point (Tchani stopped playing and didn’t chase Nagbe, Francis had taken a knock and didn’t close down the cross from Melano, Wallace went right by Afful to head home, some jerks in the Nordecke threw stuff onto the field).  As a Crew fan, it’s hard to stomach “giving the title” to Portland like that on two horrible errors.  It was hard to watch the team that we all loved to watch all season when they were at their attacking best, find itself lacking in ideas and unable to break down the Timbers’ nine-behind-the-ball blockade.  Don’t get me wrong, I coach HS soccer and this past season, we had two teams do that to us and my boys got frustrated and yelled at each other and eventually ended up winning both games, so I know how hard it can be to find a crack in a team that’s so well-disciplined defensively.  Portland led the league with 13 regular-season shutouts for a reason.  My hat is off to them for, as their TIFO put it, coming to Columbus to “do what they say can’t be done.”  (Thank you very much, Jerry Reed.)  And while I’m extremely happy for our three guys who are going to get sized for MLS Cup Championship rings, but at the same time – from this blog’s point-of-view and also from a Crew SC fan point-of-view – I’m soooooooooo bummed for our two who came so close.  
4. A friend of mine who is a Timbers season ticket holder made the trip in for the game.  We met up pregame to chat a bit and one thing he said stood out to me, “I think the wood-work is going to play a role today.  It’s been a part of every big game for us so far on this playoff run.”  Turns out he was right!  In the second half, the Timbers – AND THE CREW – hit Steve Clark’s posts and crossbar at least three times.  The wood-work didn’t decide the outcome of the contest, but it kept it from turning into a blow out.  I dunno… maybe that’s a stretch.

The next post will deal with MLS and NASL and USL free agency and where our boys stand.  Then we’ll do some season-review posts just before Christmas.  It’s crazy, but preseason training will be upon us before we know it.

2015 Playoffs – Conference Finals Report

Wow… what a set of Conference Finals these were.  Not only because we had horses in each race, but I can’t recall a better, more exciting pair of pairs of games.  Yes, a pair of pairs.  Best thing is – we end up with our dream scenario… the maximum number of Clevelanders involved in the 2015 MLS Cup!!!  (Now if only all five of them could get to play in the game somehow…)

Stuver is top left in green… obviously.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
#2 COLUMBUS CREW SC  v  #1 New York Red Bulls  •  CCSC advance 2-1 aggregate
*  Leg 1  @ MAPFRE Stadium –  W 2-0  •  Leg 2  @ Red Bull Arena –  L 0-1  *
Which was more important, getting that second goal in the final few minutes of the home leg or keeping the Red Bulls scoreless in that contest?  We wouldn’t find out the answer until the dying moments of the away leg, but the answer was… BOTH!  While this series lacked the goals of its counterpart, it was no less exciting.  The Crew SC got a goal nine seconds into the series and another moments before “halftime” and surrendered a goal late in the “second half” before one final heart-attack-of-a-ball-off-the-post with seconds left to play, before emerging victorious.  Brad Stuver [Twinsburg/Twinsburg] was the backup goalie in both contests, as usual, and Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] did not dress for either one.

Nagbe is hidden behind the guy behind Diego Valeri (kissing the trophy) and Nanchoff is second from right edge

WESTERN CONFERENCE
#3 PORTLAND TIMBERS  v  #1 FC Dallas  •  PTFC advance 5-3 aggregate
*  Leg 1  @ Providence Park –  W 3-1  •  Leg 2  @ Toyota Stadium –  D 2-2  *
The Timbers really were in control of this series from start to finish, despite a few nervy moments in the second half of the second game, but an impressive bit of skill provided the final margin.  Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] played all of both legs and took 12 corner kicks and suffered eight fouls, for whatever that’s worth.  Michael Nanchoff [North Royalton/Walsh Jesuit] was an unused sub in both matches.  Ben Zemanski [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] is still out injured, recovering from a torn ACL in the preseason.

The Timbers advance to MLS Cup for the first time and Crew SC will play for its second league title.  Back in July, Portland beat Columbus 2-1 at MAPFRE Stadium, but that isn’t going to matter on Sunday.