PORTLAND, Ore. — No David Villa, no Andrea Pirlo, no Frank Lampard. Gone Saturday were the headliners from New York City FC’s past, decorated with just about every trophy imaginable.
In their place was as tough-minded group as you can ask for, one that can call itself something those stars never could: champions of Major League Soccer.
Alex Callens rocketed home the winning kick and NYCFC stunned the Portland Timbers 4-2 on penalties after finishing 1-1 through regulation and extra time at Providence Park.
The victory caps a blistering run through the postseason for NYCFC, which finished fourth in the Eastern Conference and took out Atlanta United at home before going to New England and upsetting the Revolution, who had set the MLS single-season points record with 73. Then the Cityzens went to Philadelphia and beat the Union, who were down several starters due to COVID-19 but still offered a unique challenge of their own.
The final win might’ve been the toughest of all.
NYCFC dominated much of the 90 minutes with an aggressive, organized approach. In the cold and wet conditions in Portland, it’s perhaps an oddity that NYCFC’s goal came not off a misplayed ball or wayward pass, but because the Timbers lost track of Taty Castellanos, the Golden Boot winner and most in-form striker in the league, on a free kick.
By the time Maxi Moralez’s ball reached him, Castellanos didn’t have much to do but snap his header on frame:
For the longest time — just about as long as you can get, in fact — it looked like the goal would stand. The Timbers, toothless and unruly on their preferred counterattacks for much of the day, finally spelled together a swarm of pressure over the final 10 or so minutes.
Then, with the last kick of regulation, Felipe Mora buried the equalizer after the ball fell to him on a fortunate deflection, sending the home supporters into a thunderous roar:
“In that moment, it’s devastating,” NYCFC’s Alfredo Morales said afterward. “We deserved to win…