The Portland Timbers faced New York City FC in the 2021 MLS Cup at Providence Park on Saturday. After giving up a goal just before the half, the Timbers would draw level with a dramatic goal at the very end of 2nd half stoppage time, but would eventually fall short in penalty kicks.
The visitors would open the match with a great deal of possession, but neither team would really threaten to score until the 26th minute when Timbers midfielder Sebastián Blanco made a nice run down the left side, crossing to Felipe Mora whose shot was blocked, and Blanco also failed with his follow-up shot.
Momentum seemed to be shifting somewhat towards the Timbers but it was New York City FC who would grab the lead just before the half, when in the 41st minute, a free kick by Alfredo Morales found the head of Valentín Castellanos, whose header was partially stopped by goalkeeper Steve Clark, but the ball still had enough momentum and slipped into the net, and NYCFC had a 1-0 lead that they held at the half.
Clark would make good saves on shots from Morales and Jesús Medina in the 50th and 58th minutes, but momentum began to shift back towards the Timbers again. In the 69th minute, the Timbers would have a good scoring opportunity when Josecarlos Van Rankin made a nice cross to Mora, whose shot was deflected and then saved by NYCFC keeper Sean Johnson. Mora would have another good look in the 82nd minute but his shot was also saved.
Then, in the last few seconds of second half stoppage time, the Timbers would find the equalizer. A shot by Jarosław Niezgoda was deflected around inside the visitors box fell to the feet of Mora, who slotted a shot past Johnson to level the score, and send the Providence Park crowd into a frenzy. Regulation time ended seconds later, so the teams were going to play 30 minutes of added time.
The Timbers would control play through much of the overtime, and in the 101st minute, Yimmi Chará played a nice give-and-go with Niezgoda, then tapped a pass to Diego Valeri, but his shot was high. In the 112th minute it was Valeri playing a nice ball to Cristhian Paredes, but his shot was saved by Johnson. So with neither team able to find the net during overtime, the league title was to be decided by the randomness of penalty kicks.
After Castellanos tallied on the first shot for NYCFC, Mora’s shot was saved by Johnson. Though Clark made a nice save on the chance from Morales. But Valeri could not convert to take advantage. Santiago Moreno and Parades would convert their chances, but when Alexander Callens converted for the visitors on their fourth shot, New York City FC claimed the 2021 MLS Cup trophy, their first MLS title in just their seventh season.
Steve Clark had six saves for the Timbers,. while Sean Johnson had four saves for NYCFC in their title-winning victory.
MLS CUP MATCH RECAP | Portland Timbers lose on penalties to New York City FC in MLS Cup | Timbers Website
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS | Mora with late goal but Portland Timbers lose on PKs to NYCFC in MLS Cup | Dec. 11, 2021 | Timbers Website
