Showing posts with label Don Garber. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Don Garber. Show all posts

Monday, 7 December 2015

Timbers Win MLS Title


Portland Timbers became Major League Soccer champions for the first time as they beat Columbus Crew in the final, with ex-Premier League defender Liam Ridgewell lifting the trophy.

Diego Valeri put Portland ahead after just 27 seconds when he charged down a clearance from keeper Steve Clark.

Rodney Wallace then headed in to make it 2-0 in the seventh minute.

Kei Kamara pulled one back before half-time but the Timbers won their first major trophy since joining MLS in 2011.

Portland captain Ridgewell, 31, who played in the Premier League for Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion, is in his second season with the club.

The final, at the Crew's Mapre Stadium, got off to a dramatic start when Clark's error gifted Valeri the opening goal.

The keeper's attempted clearance bounced off the Argentine and into the net, to set a new record for the fastest goal in the history of the MLS Cup - the name given to the final.

Portland were then gifted another goal when they were allowed to play on after the ball had clearly gone out for what should have been a throw-in, and Lucas Melano crossed for Costa Rica international Wallace to head in.

Columbus hit back as their top scorer, Sierra Leone forward Kamara, fired in his 26th goal of the season on the turn after goalkeeper Larsen Kwarasey had spilled a cross.

But the hosts barely made another chance as Ridgewell's defence stood firm and Portland were unfortunate not to add to their lead in the second half as they created a number of chances.

Melano saw a shot blocked, Kamara was spared an own-goal by Michael Parkhurst's goalline clearance, Fanendo Adi headed against a post and Clark saved superbly from Natt Borchers' close-range header.


Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Beckham Ponders MLB Franchise


Since leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy in December, and retiring from the game after a five-month stint at Paris Saint-Germain, Beckham has been mulling over the location for a prospective MLS franchise.

The former England captain has now made up his mind and he will pay a discounted rate of $25m (£16m) to start an MLS expansion team in Miami, someone with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because plans are not yet being publicly discussed.

The option of becoming a team owner was included in the MLS contract that Beckham signed when joining the LA Galaxy in 2007. "We know that Miami is one of the most passionate soccer markets in North America," the MLS executive vice president, Dan Courtemanche, said. "We have met with David Beckham regarding ownership of an expansion team, and we look forward to David one day owning an MLS club."

There are currently 19 MLS teams and the league commissioner, Don Garber, hopes to expand to 24 by the 2020 season. A 20th team is already in place to begin playing in 2015 after the Premier League club Manchester City and their partner, the New York Yankees, paid an expansion fee of $100m to launch New York City FC.

The MLS still has to give Beckham the go-ahead to make Miami the location of the franchise.

Beckham is looking to raise several hundred million dollars of investment to fund the setup costs, including putting together a squad of players and building a stadium, although the franchise could initially play in an existing venue.


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