2021 MLS Cup top plays: NYCFC defeats Timbers in shootout for first Cup title
The 2021 MLS Cup champions have been crowned!
In their first Cup appearance in just their seventh season, the New York City FC topped the Portland Timbers in extra time Saturday after winning on penalty kicks, snapping Portland's six-match winning streak in the process.
Here are the top plays from Providence Park.
New York City FC 1(4), Portland Timbers 1(2)
Things were rowdy early under the lights in Portland as both fan bases showed out for their teams.
After battling back and forth for nearly 40 minutes, NYCFC's Valentín Castellanos got his team on the board first with this header (!) on a lovely cross from Maximiliano Moralez.
NYCFC carried that 1-0 lead into halftime, and it's safe to say New York was rockin' at the break.
That wasn't the case for Portland fans, one of whom expressed his frustrations by throwing a beer can that hit one of the NYCFC players.
Misfortune continued to strike for the home team in the second half, as Timbers defender Josecarlos Van Rankin picked up the first yellow card of the match in the 59th minute for a bad foul.
The tide changed later in the frame when NYCFC's Santiago Rodríguez and Sean Johnson both drew yellow cards, followed by Timbers forward Felipe Mora scoring the game-tying goal with just two minutes to spare.
It was the latest goal in regulation in MLS Cup history (90'+4').
And just like that, things headed into extra time at 1-1.
After two 15-minute extra time periods ended scoreless, things moved to a penalty shootout.
Mora failed to connect on the Timbers' opening attempt, which ultimately sealed Portland's fate.
Santiago Moreno and Cristhian Paredes were responsible for the Timbers' two successful kicks, while Castellanos, Moralez, Talles Magno and Alexander Callens punched it in for NYCFC.
The match ended there, Portland Timbers 1(2), New York City FC 1(4).
