NYCFC beats Portland Timbers on penalties to win

| 12/12/2021 | SOCCER | No Comments

NYCFC is crowned MLS Cup champion for the first time after a 4-2 win on penalties vs. the Portland Timbers.
This wasn’t the first time that the Deila had performed such a stunt. In 2009, he promised the supporters of the team he managed at the time, Norwegian side Stromsgodset, that he would strip off his clothes if they managed to avoid relegation. When his side avoided the drop, he kept his vow.

Upon taking over NYCFC ahead of the 2020 campaign, he told ESPN that he would engage in a repeat performance if his side won the MLS Cup. But when he was reminded this week of his pledge, he seemed a bit reticent.

NYCFC win MLS Cup for the first time beats Portland, December 11, 2021. Credit AP

With the team’s first trophy secure, Deila kept his promise once again, although it took some encouragement from the NYCFC fans.

“Of course the last one,” he said after the match, although he noted the win in 2009 was important as well. “You have to celebrate victories and that one today was a big victory. I said maybe too much when I got hired here, but I don’t regret that. It was a big moment. I will do that again if we keep winning trophies.”

Deila is a coach who has long been associated with “heavy metal football,” that of aggressive pressing and quick passing. Small wonder, then, that his NYCFC side showed plenty of steel in prevailing over the Timbers.

New York was seconds away from securing the win in normal time, having ridden Valentin Castellanos’ first-half header and some stellar defending throughout. But in stoppage time, a goalmouth scramble ensued in which Timbers defender Larrys Mabiala appeared to foul New York counterpart Maxime Chanot with an elbow as he tried to keep the play alive. The ball fell to Felipe Mora, who lashed the ball home with virtually the last kick of the second half.

It was a goal that had the look of an utterly soul-crushing moment for the team from the Bronx. The home crowd at Providence Park, frustrated all day at what had transpired, exploded in joy. Chanot was livid at the non-call, imploring referee Armando Villarreal to ask VAR for a look, to no avail. It seemed unlikely that New York would hang on. How could the Blues possibly regain their composure? Even the first half of extra time saw the Cityzens look a bit shocked.

First time that NYCFC had conceded a late equalizer during the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New England Revolution, the Blues surrendered a goal late only to prevail on penalties. As Saturday’s scenario played out, New York drew on that experience, and despite giving up some clear looks at goal in extra-time, NYCFC managed to get the match to the shootout.

“I just wanted to make sure that we stay level,” said goalkeeper Sean Johnson. “We’ve been in that position before. I told the guys, we have the experience not to panic, not to get down on ourselves, because there’s more of an opportunity to go forward and win the game.”

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