It took seven minutes, one gaffe by a goalkeeper and one blown call by an assistant referee for Crew SC to allow two goals in an MLS Cup final it eventually lost 2-1 to the Portland Timbers on Dec. 6.
Right away, the Crew was rattled. Right away, one of its very few weaknesses became apparent.
“I think you could see a little bit of nerves,” coach Gregg Berhalter said afterward.
Understandable, considering just one Crew player — captain Michael Parkhurst — had ever stepped onto such a stage.
The Timbers arrived at Mapfre Stadium with three players possessing MLS Cup experience in Nat Borchers, Will Johnson and Jack Jewsbury.