Breaking: Steve Clark to Portland

Twenty-seven seconds into the 2015 MLS Cup Final, then-Columbus Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark’s downfall began. Portland Timber’s Diego Valeri punished his gaffe with a goal, scoring the fastest goal in MLS Cup history. That same Steve Clark is now a Portland Timber.

Washington Post soccer writer Steven Goff tweeted earlier today that Portland was interested in Steve Clark, following up soon after with confirmation that the Timbers had claimed the keeper.

Clark was named The Crew’s 2014 defender of the year, playing all 34 games and boasting 8 shutouts and a 1.24 goals against average. He had a solid performance in 2015 up until the MLS Cup Final, but the Crew declined the option on his contract after the 2016 season.

Last summer, after playing out the 2017 season with AC Horsens in the Danish Superliga, Clark returned to MLS, signing with DC United, where he played only five matches last year and three this year.

Competing this season with David Ousted for starting goalkeeper, he was ousted in favor of returning U.S. international Bill Hamid.

With Jeff Attinella playing the bulk of the games this year for the Timbers, and Jake Gleeson backing him up while healthy (Kendall McIntosh has been on the bench recently as Gleeson has been injured), Timbers fans will have to wait and see where Clark winds up in the pecking order.