Diego Valeri named 2015 MLS Cup MVP

The Portland Timbers have won the 2015 MLS Cup, and the club's midfield maestro Diego Valeri has been named the game's Most Valuable Player for it.

Valeri scored the first goal of the game - after just 27 seconds - to give his team a lead over the Columbus Crew in Sunday's match, simultaneously breaking the record for fastest goal scored in the MLS Cup final.

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

"We knew that they take risks to play," Valeri said after the contest. "That’s their way. We knew that the aggressiveness in the first 20 minutes from us had to be there. We tried to press them, because most of the situations that they create comes from their backline."

It worked.

The Timbers would go on to hoist the trophy by virtue of a 2-1 victory, with Valeri, who tore his ACL on the final day of the 2014 season, pulling the strings in midfield.