:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47817321/usa-today-8981119.0.jpg)
In a back-and-forth game with plenty of goofs from referees and players alike, Portland Timbers defeated Columbus Crew SC, 2-1, to win their first MLS Cup in club history. The game started with a horrific mistake from Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark, which led to Diego Valerie scoring the fastest goal in the history of the competition.
Don’t blink. You’re watching the fastest goal in #MLSCup history at 27 seconds, courtesy of @DiegoDv8. https://t.co/m3wsmpQ1RZ
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 6, 2015
Six minutes later, Rodney Wallace buried a diving header to double the Timbers' lead. However, the goal never should have happened since Portland clearly played the ball out of bounds in the buildup. It was a call the linesman somehow blew, and it obviously made a huge impact on the game. Crew SC pulled one back in the 17th minute after Timbers keeper Adam Kwarasey had a blunder of his own.
That was the end of the scoring, despite more chances for both sides and two balls of the post for Portland. The Timbers became the third expansion club, joining Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake, to win the MLS Cup.
Europe
Chelsea 0-1 AFC Bournemouth: Post-match reaction [We Ain't Got No History]
Jose Mourinho and Chelsea continue their disaster season with a late loss to Premier League debutant Bournemouth. The Cherries scored their winner off a poorly defended corner in the 82nd minute.
Newcastle 2, Liverpool 0: Sleepy Reds Punished [The Liverpool Offside]
In what turned out to be a tough weekend for Premier League favorites, not even Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool were immune to the upset bug. Previously struggling Newcastle deserved the win and put the game away in injury time, though the Reds did have a late equalizing goal incorrectly disallowed for being offside.
A journey to watch Lionel Messi in Barcelona, soccer's version of a religious pilgrimage [SBN]
Wherever Messi is playing should be considered Mecca.
International
USWNT Victory Tour game in Hawaii cancelled over field conditions [SSFC]
The USWNT was supposed to play Trinidad & Tobago, but the field in Hawaii was a joke. The terrible conditions lead to an important question: Why does U.S. Soccer treat the women's national team worse than the men?
What's happening in The A?
The wheels are officially falling off for the Falcons, who dropped a 23-19 result against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. It was the fifth loss in a row for Atlanta, which falls to 6-6 and increasingly out of the playoff picture.
The Hawks had trouble holding another big lead Friday night. Fortunately, the Los Angeles Lakers are mostly young enough and bad enough that Atlanta was able to recover for a 100-87 victory. In his final game at Philips Arena, Kobe Bryant scored 14 points on 19 shots and added five assists, three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.