So here we are. Kinda awkward, watching from home.

But here it is, the final match of the season — the one for all the marbles. While this would be much more interesting with the Timbers in the finale, alas, it wasn’t meant to be. So we have to watch the Columbus Crew take on the fishing village up north. Normally I wouldn’t really care about tonight’s game. But there is a rooting interest here for Timbers fans.

For one night and one night, only I will be rooting for the Crew. I mean there is the obvious Portland connection, with Caleb Porter and Darlington Nagbe, though Nagbe will be absent from tonight’s festivities as he isn’t medically cleared to play. The same goes for Pedro Santos. And believe me, the Crew are going to notice Nagbe’s absence. He’s the straw that stirs the drink, and without that in the midfield it could be tough going.

Without Nagbe, the Sounders have the edge in the midfield. While I think that the Sounders are a tad bit better than the Crew, I have a feeling the Crew can put the screws to the Flounders and deny them an MLS Cup. Let's face it, they’re insufferable as it is, and it’ll be worse if they win it AGAIN. This could go all the way to penalties and there I would tip the scale to the Sounders again.

You don’t sleep on Stefan Frei.

The first to blink wins this.

How to Watch

Match Time: 5:30pm/8:30pm
Venue: Mapfre Stadium - Columbus, OH
National English TV: FOX (Strong, Holden)
National Spanish TV: UníMas