MLS Cup Penalty Heartbreak For Timbers

PORTLAND, OR —New York City FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson saved two Portland Timbers penalty kicks as his team won a shootout 4-2 and claimed its first ever MLS Cup title Saturday at Providence Park.

Johnson earned the MLS Cup MVP after saving penalty attempts by Portland's Felipe Mora and Diego Valeri. NYCFC's Alex Callens converted his penalty kick to seal the victory in a contest that finished 1-1 after regulation.

Mora had been the hero when he scored a dramatic equalizer in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time. The game remained scoreless during 30 extra minutes.

NYCFC's Valentin "Taty" Castellanos scored on a header from a free kick by Maxi Moralez in the 40th minute, giving NYCFC the 1-0 lead.

Portland's Diego Chara said the first half had been difficult for his team because the visitors from New York controlled the ball.

"In the second half, we found a way to tie the game. I think after that it was different for us, getting confidence, playing with the ball, and we created a lot of opportunities," Chara said.

Portland was playing in its third MLS Cup, and its first at home. The Timbers had won the 2015 final over the Columbus Crew in Ohio, but lost the 2018 title match to Atlanta United in Georgia.

Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese said he was disappointed by Saturday's result, but proud of the Timbers and their fans.

"At home today, we had the hope to have a trophy for our fans, to execute a game for them to enjoy and to remember this day for the rest of our lives," Savarese said. "It will be remembered, not in the way we want it.

"But the passion the fans gave us, the work that everybody put in on the field ... I'm just extremely proud of my staff, the players, the entire organization. We showed why Portland is a special place. I think anyone who saw this match overseas or in the United States understands why this is soccer city."