NYCFC wins MLS Cup, beats Timbers

PORTLAND. Ore. — Alex Callens converted his penalty and New York City FC won its first MLS Cup title in a shootout after a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers on Saturday.

Golden Boot winner Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos scored in the opening half and it appeared that NYCFC was on its way to the league championship in regulation, but Portland’s Felipe Mora scored in stoppage time.

After the teams went scoreless in extra time, Callen’s penalty sealed NYCFC’s 4-2 shootout victory. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson saved attempts from Mora and Diego Valeri.

NYCFC celebrated in front of the goal after Callens converted, while Valeri lay in the center of the field in disbelief. A group of New York players broke off from the party to salute their fans, grouped in the opposite corner of the stadium.

NYCFC, which joined the league in 2015, had never advanced to the title game.

Castellanos, who had 19 goals in the regular season, was back in the starting lineup after missing the Eastern Conference final against Philadelphia. The Argentine striker was handed a red card in the conference semifinals against the top-seeded New England Revolution, which NYCFC won on a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw.

New York’s 2-1 victory over at Philadelphia secured NYCFC a place in the MLS Cup final for the first time. NYCFC was the fourth seed in the East after finishing the regular season 14-9-11.

The Timbers were also seeded fourth after going 17-13-4 in the regular season. Portland downed the topseeded Colorado Rapids on Thanksgiving Day before beating Real Salt Lake 2-0 at Providence Park to win the Western Conference and secure home field for the final.