Portland Timbers’ MLS Cup 2015: Where are they now?

The 2015 MLS Cup final saw the Portland Timbers defeat the Columbus Crew at Mapfre Stadium on December 6, but where are those 18 Timbers’ players now?

The 2015 MLS Cup final saw the Portland Timbers face off against the Columbus Crew at Mapfre Stadium on December 6. Neither Portland or Columbus had finished the regular season top of their respective conferences. The Crew were second to the Red Bulls in the East, while the Timbers finished third in the West, behind both FC Dallas and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

It took extra time for the Crew to squeeze past the Montreal Impact in the semi-finals, before they overcame the No.1 seed NYRB in the Conference Finals to reach the MLS Cup final. In the West, the Timbers needed a shoot-out to overcome Sporting KC in the Knockout Round, before getting the better of the Whitecaps and FC Dallas over two legs apiece.

The final was played in front of 22,000 people at Mapfre Stadium, with the Timbers scoring twice inside the opening seven minutes. The hosts got one back after 18 minutes, but Portland were able to hold on to secure their first-ever MLS Cup.

Nearly four years have passed since their inaugural triumph, but where is that match-day squad now?

GK – Adam Kwarasey – Valerenga (Eliteserien, NOR)

Adam Kwarasey was almost ever-present in goal for the 2015 Portland Timbers, playing almost 3500 minutes between the sticks, with 14 shutouts over the course of the season. The Norwegian-born shot-stopper enjoyed a youth career at Valerenga, before signing for Strømsgodset to begin his professional career.

He made 183 appearances for the side, even scoring a goal from the penalty spot in the 2010 Norwegian Cup, as Strømsgodset went on to lift the trophy that season. In 2011, thanks to his eligibility from his father’s nationality, he chose to represent Ghana at international level, and the goalkeeper has gone on to make 24 appearances for the national team.

That 2015 season was arguably the best of Kwarasey’s career after he had made the move Stateside. After a terrific regular season, with 13 shutouts in 33 games, he then scored what turned out to be the decisive penalty in the Knockout Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Kwarasey also took home the MLS Save of the Year award for an acrobatic fingertip stop to debt Real Salt Lake’s Luke Mulholland.

Since leaving MLS, the Ghanaian has gone on to play for Rosenborg and Brøndby, before returning to the club where he started his youth career, Valerenga. The 31-year-old has helped the side to a top-eight finish in the Eliteserien in his first two seasons with the club.