COLUMBUS, Ohio — The day has finally arrived. MLS Cup is here.
The Columbus Crew host the Portland Timbers at MAPFRE Stadium (4 p.m., ESPN, UniMas) in the 2015 final, and the game should be good one given how similar the two clubs are.
With the game fast approaching, the SBI editorial staff has made its predictions for the result. No one is expecting a blowout, but everyone thinks the same team will prevail.
Here are SBI’s staff picks for the 2015 MLS Cup:
IVES GALARCEP, Editor-in-Chief
Timbers 3, Crew 2
Look for Columbus to come out firing, but Portland’s veteran group will stay poised and weather the early storm. Kei Kamara’s injury could make things much tougher, but whether he’s healthy or not, the Timbers should have the firepower to break through the Crew’s defense in what should be a wide-open match. Darlington Nagbe enjoys a Man of the Match performance, scoring twice to help the Timbers lift the MLS Cup.
RYAN TOLMICH, Associate Editor
Timbers 2, Crew 1
Assuming Kei Kamara is able to go, it’s hard to imagine the Crew forward will be at his peak heading into Sunday’s game. That spells bad news for the Crew, who are already contending with the league’s hottest road team. Riding Fanendo Adi, the Timbers get another pair of goals on the road to claim the team’s first MLS Cup.
AARON CRANFORD, Managing Editor
Timbers 2, Crew 1.
When these two sides met at MAPFRE Stadium in September, Fanendo Adi bested Kei Kamara en route to a 2-1 win. There’s much more at stake this time around, but if Kamara’s unable to go, I don’t see the home side exacting revenge. I expect Adi to bag at least one goal while a defender, likely Liam Ridgewell, scores the game-winner from a set play.
FRANCO PANIZO, Senior Writer
Timbers 3, Crew 2
The potential loss of Kei Kamara is a game-changer. Without him, the Crew lose a lot. With him, they have a good shot at coming out on top. That said, the Timbers are the hotter team coming into this match. They started clicking on all cylinders at the end of the season, and have continued playing well in the playoffs. As long as their woeful finishing doesn’t return, the Timbers should prevail. It’ll be a tight game given how close the individual match-ups are, but don’t sleep on Fanendo Adi, who might prove too tough a challenge for Michael Parkhurst.
COLE KELLOGG, Assistant Editor
Timbers 3, Crew 1
Caleb Porter’s team is too well organized to not come out and win this game. The defensive pairing of Nat Borchers and Liam Ridgewell will be too much for the Columbus Crew offense to overcome, with both centerbacks playing well and with confidence. I expect to see something special from Diego Valeri, a set piece goal for one of Portland’s centerbacks, and a strike that exemplifies the dominance of Fanendo Adi.
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Who do you think will win the MLS Cup? Will the Timbers lift its first title on the road or will the Crew win their second?
Share your thoughts below.
Penalties
The predictions are funny to me. The game will be decided by a ridgewell header or nagbe will score two goals…ect. Crapshoot player predictions are just lazy.
Well the whole SBI staff just set themselves up to look silly this evening.
Guess they were right
When the crew win im going to troll you guys so hard
BRYAN………………………….L………………………………………………………O……………………………………………………………………….L……………………………………………………………………………………