Robbie Keane nominated for the Goal of the Year in MLS

FC Dallas found an away goal but might rue allowing a late goal in a 3-1 defeat to the Portland Timbers in the first leg of the conference final. Pareja still coached in Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Portland Timbers after flying to Barranquilla, Colombia, to be with family and rejoining the team on Saturday night.

Columbus’ Justin Meram scored after just nine seconds and the Crew went on to beat the NY Red Bulls 2-0 on Sunday in the first leg of the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference finals.

Trailing 2-0, David Texeira scored in the 61st minute for Dallas, the West’s top seed in the playoffs.

Darlington Nagbe, who is back in Portland after his first career call-up to the USA national team, stepped into the No. 10 spot for Valeri, who led the team with eight assists in the regular season. “They’re very risky in a lot of different ways”.

The former Ghana shot-stopper has made 13 clean sheets in 34 regular season games for the Timbers, who are now third with 53 points in the Western Conference.

“I feel good about it”, Nagbe said. Kei Kamara added a bit of insurance with a goal in the 85th minute to put Columbus up 2-0.

Borchers’ goal came in stoppage time when a number of Timbers scrambled to push in Paparatto’s header.

Following the match, after the rest of the Timbers had left the field, Borchers stood before the north end of the stadium where the Timbers Army supporters’ group was celebrating, and he saluted them. Beloved by the Timbers Army, he has served as the team’s heart and soul for three seasons and, if this truly is his final home match as a Timber, deserves the chance to lead the team once more and receive a proper “thank you” from the Timbers’ faithful.

The Crew and the Red Bulls finished at the top of the east standings, with NY taking the first spot.

The race for the MLS Cup is underway.

All the teams were rested after a two-week break for worldwide play.