PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. COLUMBUS CREW SC
PROVIDENCE PARK, Portland, Oregon
March 6, 2016 (WEEK 1, MLS Game #7)
4:30 PM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada)
It's an MLS Cup rematch to open the 2016 season, when the defending champion Portland Timbers play host to Columbus Crew SC on Sunday afternoon at Providence Park. The clubs faced off in the last competitive match of the 2015 season, the Timbers getting two goals in the opening seven minutes on their way to a first MLS title in their fifth season in the league. The two teams finished with the same records in 2015, both finishing with the second-best records in their respective conferences.
- The match is a rematch of MLS Cup 2015, a 2-1 Timbers victory at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus. Diego Valeri and Rodney Wallace gave the Timbers a 2-0 lead after just seven minutes; Kei Kamara pulled a goal back on 18 minutes, but the Timbers held on for their first MLS title.
- The Timbers also won the regular-season meeting between the clubs last season, also a 2-1 victory in Columbus (on Sept. 26). The all-time league series is exactly level, with each team having won twice in six meetings (with two draws).
- The Timbers ended their own Simple Invitational tournament with a 2-0 loss to the Chicago Fire, their 2-0 defeat by an MLS club in the event (also falling to Vancouver Whitecaps FC). The Timbers did defeat NASL side Minnesota United FC 4-0 to kick off the tourney.
- Crew SC concluded their preparations with a 1-0 loss to the New England Revolution in the final of the Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson, Ariz., after reaching draws in their first three matches in the competition. Kei Kamara was the leading scorer in the event with three goals.
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REFEREE: Baldomero Toledo. AR1 (bench): Adam Garner; AR2 (opposite): Mike Kampmeinert; 4th: Juan Guzman
MLS Career: 207 games; FC/gm: 24.9; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 72; pens: 74
SUSPENDED: none
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (6 meetings): Timbers 2 wins, 6 goals... Crew SC 2 wins, 6 goals... Ties 2
AT PORTLAND (3 meetings): Timbers 1 win, 4 goals... Crew SC 0 wins, 3 goals... Ties 2
LAST YEAR (MLS)
9/26: CLB 1, POR 2 (Kamara 43 -- Adi 28, 50)
- This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
- Coaches record: Caleb Porter vs. CLB: P3 W1 L1 D1... Gregg Berhalter vs. POR: P2 W0 L1 D1
