What. A. Start.  Just 27 seconds into the MLS Cup final between the Columbus Crew and the Portlan...

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Armen Bedakian

News Editor

What. A. Start.Just 27 seconds into the MLS Cup final between the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/teams/22" href="http://www.thescore.com/mls/teams/22">Columbus Crew</a> and the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/teams/530" href="http://www.thescore.com/mls/teams/530">Portland Timbers</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///liga/players/2344" href="http://www.thescore.com/liga/players/2344">Diego Valeri</a> pulled off the fastest goal in MLS Cup final history with this audacious, hilarious effort.Valeri rushed at Crew goalkeeper <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/28011" href="http://www.thescore.com/mls/players/28011">Steve Clark</a> as he received the ball, then went in for a slide tackle. Clark took a cute touch, couldn't clear the ball in time, and Valeri scored in the first minute of play.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The second-quickest goal in an MLS Cup game came back in the league's inaugural championship in 1996, when Eduardo Hurtado scored for the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/teams/30" href="http://www.thescore.com/mls/teams/30">LA Galaxy</a> in the fourth minute of play.<figure><a class="embedly-card" href="https://streamable.com/13d8">Streamable - simple video sharing</a>
<script async="" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/platform.js" charset="UTF-8"></script></figure>Absolutely unbelievable.<figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Official word is :27 seconds on that <a href="https://twitter.com/DiegoDv8">@DiegoDv8</a> strike. Fastest goal in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLSCup?src=hash">#MLSCup</a> history. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hustle?src=hash">#hustle</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCTID?src=hash">#RCTID</a>— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimbersFC/status/673615372071870464">December 6, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
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Steve Clark (MLS)

Portland Timbers

Diego Valeri

Columbus Crew

MLS Soccer

For the first time in club history, the Portland Timbers stand atop Major League Soccer.  The Tim...

https://rich-content.thescore.com/authors/gianluca-nesci/content_cards

Gianluca Nesci

Supervising Editor

For the first time in club history, the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/teams/530" href="http://www.thescore.com/mls/teams/530">Portland Timbers</a> stand atop Major League Soccer.The Timbers, spurred by early goals from <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///liga/players/2344" href="http://www.thescore.com/liga/players/2344">Diego Valeri</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///copam/players/689" href="http://www.thescore.com/copam/players/689">Rodney Wallace</a> - the two men scoring within the opening seven minutes of the match, and the former finding the net after only 27 seconds - defeated the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/teams/22" href="http://www.thescore.com/mls/teams/22">Columbus Crew</a> 2-1 at MAPFRE Stadium to capture the title on Sunday.Here's everything you need to know about the 2015 MLS Cup final, a historic night for the Timbers, and the championship-starved city of Portland.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/146928/cropped_REU_2346985.jpg?ts=1449437977"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>VIDEOS<ul>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/903583" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/903583">Valeri scores fastest goal in MLS Cup final history</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/903604" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/903604">Timbers continue furious start as Wallace scores 7th-minute goal</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/903631" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/903631">Columbus fans pelt Portland players with bottles after Timbers' goal</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/903612" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/903612">Kei Kamara cuts Portland's lead in half after another 'keeper gaffe​</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/903692" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/903692">Columbus gets away with blatant goal-line handball</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="" href="">Steve Clark attempts to find redemption with incredible late save</a></li>
</ul>NEWS<ul>
<li><a href="https://cmsadmin.thescore.com/admin/newsroom/#/articles/902325">Timbers' Ridgewell, Adi 'ready to go' for MLS Cup final </a></li>
<li><a href="https://cmsadmin.thescore.com/admin/newsroom/#/articles/903492">Kamara included in Columbus Crew's starting XI for MLS Cup final </a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/903603" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/903603">Twitter reacts to Clark's miscue, Valeri's opener in MLS Cup final</a></li>
</ul>POST-MATCH COVERAGE<figure><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/146985/cropped_REU_2347205.jpg?ts=1449445988"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><ul>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/903685" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/903685">Team of destiny: Portland tops Columbus to win 1st-ever MLS Cup</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thescore.com/mls/news/903881">The Portland Timbers: Masters of fate, captains of destiny, MLS Cup winners</a></li>
<li><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/903748" href="http://www.thescore.com/news/903748">Portland's Diego Valeri named 2015 MLS Cup MVP</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thescore.com/mls/news/903839">PHOTOS: Portland Timbers celebrate 1st MLS Cup</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.thescore.com/mls/news/903916">VIDEO: Portland Timbers players cut Nat Borchers' iconic beard off</a></li>
</ul>

Valeri scores fastest goal in MLS Cup final history after 'keeper's brutal error

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