December 11, 2021, New York City FC wins MLS Championship in a win over the Portland Timbers at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon.
Saturday’s match got underway with the Portland Timbers battling into the wind as the rain poured down at Providence Park. New York FC started the match with high energy as they tried to find their foothold and gain some momentum. In the 9th minute NYCFC earned the first corner kick of the match with no results. The Timbers’ Sebastian Blanco’s shot on goal was blocked in the 16th minute and the match remained scoreless.
Play got physical in the 23rd minute as Valentín Castellanos of NYCFC went down on the midfield line followed by Timbers and NYCFC players checking shoulders resulting in Timbers’ George Fochive dropping to his knees. Timbers earned the foul with no card given by referee, Armando Villarreal. The Timbers continued pushing with a multiple shot volley in the 25th minute resulting in an unsuccessful corner. NYCFC scored the first goal of the match in the 41st minute off of a set piece with service by Jesus Madina to golden boot winner, Castellanos. During the goal celebration Madina was hit in the head by a can thrown from the stands without injury. The two minutes of stoppage time played out to end the first half with NYCFC up 1-0.
The Timbers started the second half with a set piece in the 51st minute with service by Yimmi Chara that earned a corner kick. A potential handball on the play was reviewed by Video Assisted Referee (VAR) with no foul called. NYCFC had two shots on goal near the 55th minute, both saved by Steve Clark. Timbers’ Josecarlos Van Rankin earned a yellow card in the 58th minute with a lunge on Santiago Rodriguez. The Timbers continued to press looking for a chance on goal with another volley in the 66th minute and an attempted scissor kick by Felipe Mora in the 68th. Sean Johnson and Jesus Medina both received yellow cards for delay of game as NYCFC did what they could to draw down the clock. In a spectacular moment that brought Providence Park to its feet, a blocked shot by Jaroslaw Niezgoda found its way to Mora for a Timbers equalizing goal in the final play of stoppage time. The whistle blew in the 94th minute of regular play sending the match into 30 minutes of extra play. 
Portland used the energy and momentum from the goal in extra time with a few shots on goal that couldn’t find their way into the back of the net. The score remained tied at the end of extra time sending the game into penalty kicks. NYCFC shot first with Castellanos making it past Clark. Mora shot next for the Timbers with a save by Johnson. Diego Valeri took the second shot for the Timbers also resulting in a save by Johnson. NYCFC made their remaining shots crowning them the 2021 MLS Champions.
