COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Portland Timbers have traveled to the Columbus Crew’s stomping grounds for Sunday’s MLS Cup final with the record of the best team on the road over the past two seasons.

Caleb Porter’s side has won 14 games away from home in MLS since the start of 2014, and the structured gameplans from the former Akron head coach is the reason behind that stat.

“We know who we are,” Porter told the press at training on Saturday. “We’re the best road team in the league. We look honestly at the opponent and we come up with an effective way to win games, playing it simple. It’s about the team.

“I think the best way to approach that is to make them defend. We’re not a reactionary team, our gameplan isn’t to stop the opponent. That’s always a part of our plan, maybe even more than the Crew’s plan. I think they solely focus on themselves, but I’ve learned to factor the opponent a little bit and prepare for certain things. As much as you want to decide the game with the ball, games don’t always go that way.”

The Timbers coach is confused by the lack of respect his side has gotten this season, despite their all around success.

“We didn’t have anybody that was named in the MLS Best XI, we have no one that was an MLS All-Star,” said Porter. “Yet you look and in every position we have a good player and I wouldn’t trade him for anyone.

“It seems like every single series we are underdogs, and it’s fine. It doesn’t change what we do, I don’t need to motivate the guys with that. We’re unbeaten in eight games, and hopefully we’ll be unbeaten in nine games.”

Here are some more MLS Cup news and notes from Saturday:

FINLAY RELISHES HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

Ethan Finlay is ready and raring for Sunday’s MLS Cup final at his team’s home stadium.

The Crew’s leading assists man is aware of the quality that the Timbers bring to the table, though. Some of the biggest storylines ahead of this MLS Cup have been the connections both sides share to the state of Ohio, and Finlay believes Columbus hosting the final is symbolic.

“It means a lot to us as a franchise and as players, but it really means a lot to this city,” said Finlay. “We’re coming full circle, this is the 20th year of MLS in Columbus and I think having MLS Cup here is pretty great.”

The Crew winger was also full of praise for the condition of the pitch at his home stadium.

“This has been one of the best fields I have played on,” said Finlay. “I think a lot of people around the league would agree with that notion. There’s a reason we play well here, we’re comfortable with this field, it’s one of the best in the league and we’re happy to call it home.”

RIDGEWELL FULL OF PRAISE FOR JOHNSON

Portland Timbers captain Liam Ridgewell has been front and center in the media during the lead up to MLS Cup, and the English defender touched on a teammate whose omission from the starting lineup would have been unforeseeable earlier this season.

Will Johnson suffered a broken tibia last season that kept him out of action until May 2015. The Timbers are 7-1-3 in MLS play with Johnson on the field this season, but more injury problems in the fall led to him playing no part in the post-season run.

“Everyone is a professional, we’ve all gone through ups and downs and we’ve all been injured in our careers,” Ridgewell said about Johnson at Saturday’s training session. “Sometimes you get an injury and you can’t take part, including myself last week, that wasn’t easy. You’ve just got to be there for the boys and Will has done that since he’s come back. He’s been great, and I’m sure he just wishes the boys all well for the game.”

ADI ON SUNDAY’S MATCH-UP

The hype around Fanendo Adi has been awfully quiet leading up to MLS Cup, considering the Nigerian striker has amassed 18 goals for the Timbers this year.

The frontman is focused on his own game.

“I’m looking forward to winning the balls, fighting for the team and trying to help the team win,” Adi told the press on Saturday at training.

The Designated Player was the hero late in September in Columbus, scoring a brace at MAPFRE Stadium to lead the Timbers to a 2-1 victory over the Crew. But to the striker, this final is a whole different story.

“That was a league game, of course we were happy to come here and pick up the 3 points,” said Adi. “Columbus is going to come out really aggressive, they’re playing at their home field, but we are focused on what we did on the road and the last game is a bygone right now. Now we’re thinking about tomorrow.”

With the Timbers’ Army out in full force to support their team abroad, Adi is ready to earn the dedicated fanbase the trophy they deserve.

“We will try to make them proud as much as we can,” said Adi. “We can’t wait to have them on site tomorrow in the stadium.”