Sean Johnson made two saves in the shootout, and New York City FC beat the Portland Timbers 4-2 in penalties on Saturday to claim their first MLS Cup on a rainy and windy afternoon at Providence Park.
NYCFC was moments away from from the title, but with just seconds left in injury time, Portland’s Felipe Mora found a bouncing ball in the box and slotted it home to tie the score at 1-1. Maxime Chanot was incessant that he was fouled in the build up to the goal, and replayed showed him being knocked over just before the ball landed at Mora’s feet. VAR agreed, and did not overturn the call.
Valentin Castellanos gave NYCFC the lead in the 41st minute, heading home a cross from Maximiliano Moralez. Timbers’ goalkeeper Steve Clark got a hand on it, but it trickled in to put NYCFC ahead. NYCFC kept that lead until the closing moments of regulation.
Extra time was scoreless, and NYCFC won in penalties.
NYCFC was founded in 2013 and played its first MLS games in 2015.