Parkhurst Suffers Another Cup Defeat
- Updated: December 6, 2015
Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com
The fourth time wasn’t a charm for former Revolution center back Michael Parkhurst as he and his Columbus Crew SC teammates fell 2-1 to the Portland Timbers in Sunday’s MLS Cup final at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Diego Valeri scored the earliest goal in MLS Cup history when he tallied inside of 27 seconds while Rodney Wallace made it a multi-goal advantage for the guests in the seventh minute. Crew striker Kei Kamara pulled one back for the hosts in the 18th minute to give the hosts hope of a comeback.
Parkhurst, who wore the captain’s armband for the hosts, made a trio of defensive stops to keep the Timbers off the board after the break. But the Crew couldn’t find the equalizer they desperately searched for, dooming Parkhurst to taste defeat in the title game for the fourth time in his MLS career.
The Cranston, R.I. native started for the Revolution during their MLS Cup appearances in 2005, 2006 and 2007, all of which ended with the Foxboro outfit on the wrong side of the scoreboard. The Revolution traded his MLS rights to Columbus prior to the 2014 season for a first-round pick and allocation money.
Meanwhile, another former Revolution player tasted the Cup spoils at the expense of Parkhurst and the Crew.
Timbers goalkeepers coach Adin Brown, who starred for the local XI from 2002-04, lifted the championship trophy following Sunday’s match 13 years after he was denied of the opportunity to do so during the 2002 MLS Cup final, which was held at Gillette Stadium.
Coincidentally, Columbus was the first MLS team to lose a home championship final since the Revolution in 2002.
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