LEWIS CENTER, Ohio — Twenty-seven seconds into the 2015 MLS Cup final, Diego Valeri of the Portland Timbers stole the ball from Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark and scored into a gaping net.
Valeri did both of these things, the steal and the shot, with one sliding tackle — which is something almost unimaginable given the time, place and circumstances. Sepp Blatter could not rig this.
A standing-room crowd of 21,747 at Mapfre Stadium, gearing up to celebrate the biggest professional sports title in Columbus history, tried to rally the home team. Then, in the seventh minute, an assistant referee blew a call, a discomfited Crew defense buckled and the Timbers took a 2-0 lead on a quick counter.