Portland Timbers
Darlington Nagbe
It’s been a big year for the midfielder, and now it’s time to win a title. Nagbe, freshly ordained as a US citizen, was handed his first USA cap in the 6-1 mauling of St Vincent last month, and he has it all: skill, technique, ease in possession, a fierce shot from long range. Coach Caleb Porter says: “I honestly believe that if you took him right now and threw him in a Barcelona training session, he would not be out of place.” But some still think he can do more. Not enough goals, not enough assists, they chide. Maybe on Sunday, with all eyes on him, he can deliver.
Nat Borchers
Defence has been the Timbers’ forte this postseaon, thanks largely to a pair of veterans in central areas: former Real Salt Lake star Borchers, and Liam Ridgewell, once of Aston Villa and West Brom. Ridgewell missed the second leg against Dallas but Borchers shouldered the burden, making a vital block on Blas Perez late on and ensuring the Timbers’ path to the final. Portland conceded 14 fewer goals this season with Borchers in the team, and they’ll need him to deal with Kamara’s physical threat. Look out for his beard, too: it’s great.
Diego Valeri
The Argentinian playmaker missed the Western Conference final through suspension, but he’s back for Sunday, and that presents a conundrum for Columbus. “I like Valeri and Nagbe in the middle working together,” Crew coach Gregg Berhalter said. “So it’s going to be challenging.” Sure is: Valeri, who has drive and bustle to go with his finesse, and can orchestrate, dribble and make life difficult for defences. There have been murmurings that Valeri finds it tough to play with Nagbe, but quality will out, and the Timbers are thankful to have him back.
Adam Kwarasey
Kwarasey was born in Norway and represents Ghana, but had a big year in his first full season in America. His 13 shutouts tied the league record and helped the Timbers to a miserly 39 goals conceded – and he then showed his mettle in the shootout win over Sporting KC, managing to dodge Saad Abdul-Salaam’s spot kick and then nervelessly converting one of his own. Kwarasey won the save of the season award, too, for his brilliant fingertip reaction from RSL’s Luke Mulholland in August. He’s tall and limber, but can he stop Kamara and Higuain? Keep a clean sheet, and a special Timbers log awaits.
Columbus Crew
Kei Kamara
Sebastian Giovinco might have won the league MVP award for his deeds with Toronto, but Kei Kamara made a convincing case for the most effective player: 22 regular-season goals, eight assists, and unlike Giovinco, he came up big in the playoffs. Kamara, 6ft 3in and with a spring to match Miroslav Klose, scored two goals in the semi-final to dispatch a dangerous Montreal side, and tapped in late against Red Bulls to give his side a crucial two-goal advantage. Basically, he’s been brilliant all season. He holds the key.
Wil Trapp
Wil might be missing an L, but the clever 22-year-old defensive midfielder isn’t lacking much else. Trapp was injured for three months of the season with a nasty concussion, but how Columbus have enjoyed his return to the side. Small and slight, Trapp gets through vital work with Tony Tchani, and the pair’s display against the Red Bulls’ much-touted midfield was the major factor in the Crew’s aggregate victory in the conference final. Thierry Henry famously spoke of how Trapp had “owned the show” against the Red Bulls last season, and the little maestro has the tools and the spike to influence the outcome on Sunday.
Ethan Finlay
This year, Finlay enjoyed what we might call his breakout MLS season: with 12 goals and 13 assists, he was one of just four players to record double digits in both MLS categories. The others? Giovinco, Benny Feilhaber and Clint Dempsey. So Finlay is in good company – and he’s one of the reasons the Crew are contesting this final. The 25-year-old is quick, energetic and willing, and now he’s added guile to go with his guts. Expect him to go wide and provide the crosses, and space, for Kamara to exploit. Portland have been warned.
Gaston Sauro
For all their qualities, the Crew defence is leaky: of the 12 MLS playoff teams, only Toronto conceded more than the 53 Columbus gave up in the regular season. But Gaston Sauro has made an impact, even though he only arrived in August. He’s tall, physical, can head balls away, and Berhalter seems to prefer him to the erratic Emanuel Pogatetz. The Crew’s statistics have improved markedly since the Argentinian was signed from Basel, and with the Timbers frontline suddenly hot, his partnership with Michael Parkhurst is vital.
