New York City beat Portland Timbers on penalties in MLS Cup final 🇺🇸 🏆 | OneFootball

New York City FC are 2021 MLS Cup champions after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Portland Timbers 1-0 on Saturday.

Scorers: Mora 90+4′; Castellanos 41′

The match at Providence Park was a thrilling encounter as the league’s top two teams went head-to-head for some sliverware. But New York City were the ones with more energy, peppering the hosts with chances right from the first whistle.

Eventually, New York’s pressure was enough to crack the hosts and Valentín Castellanos’ header trickled into the net shortly before the break despite goalkeeper Steve Clark getting a hand to it.

Portland wouldn’t have their first shot on target until after the hour mark, but they did manage to stage a late onslaught.

And they were rewarded in the dying seconds of the four added minutes when Felipe Mora fired home after the Blues were unable to clear their lines.

It was an equaliser shrouded in controversy as defender Maxime Chanot was obviously fouled by Portland counterpart Larrys Mabiala moments before the ball hit the net.

With no goals in extra time, the sides went to penalties. NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson came up strong with two saves to set up Alexander Callens who blasted home their fifth penalty for a 4-2 success on spot kicks.

A first-ever national trophy for the boys from the Bronx, and the first major honour crown for head coach Ronny Deila since he led Celtic to the Scottish Premiership in 2015/16.