New York City FCdefeated Portland Timbers 4-2 on penalties, after a 1-1 draw to became 2021 MLS Cup champions for the first time in their history. Taty Castellanos opened the scoring and Felipe Mora got the equalizer for the Timbers in the 94th minute. In the penalties shootout, Alex Callens got the final call for NYCFC.
This was their seventh overall meeting. Portland Timbers werethe absolutefavorites in head-to-head clashes, having celebrated a victory on five occasionsso far; New York City FC have grabbed a triumph just once to this day,and, before the final, nomatcheshadended in a draw.
Before the 2021 MLS Cup final, their most recent game was played on August 1, 2020, when the Timbers woncomfortably 3-1 away at the Yankee Stadium in New Yorkin theQuarter-Finals of the 2020 MLS Is Back tournament.
New York City FC: Past Cup wins
On Saturday, December 11, New York City FC marked their debut in the MLS Cup Finals and it’s first trophy. In 2015, they missed out on the MLS Cup Playoffs, finishing eighth in theEastern Conference with 37 points. The next season, new coach Patrick Vieiraled them to their first MLSPlayoffs participation, as well as a second-place finish in the Supporters’ Shield.
The furthest thePigeonsgot wastheConference Semi-Finals, where they were defeated 7-0 on aggregate by Toronto FC. In 2017, NYFC ended the regular season in second placein theEastern Conference with 57, securing a directConference Semi-Finals spot. They were again stopped at that particular stage, this time byColumbus Crew (4-3 on aggregate).
The following two seasons were also unsuccessful for theBoys in Blue, reaching theConference Semi-Finals stage twice, only to lose toAtlanta United (4-1 on aggregate), andToronto FC 2-1 respectively in the 2019 MLS Playoffs. In their previous attempt, inMLS 2020, they failed to get past theFirst Round, losing to Orlando Cityon penalties, after a 1-1 draw.