Despite the rain on Saturday, something happened that has not happened in over ten years–a New York team won a major championship. New York City Football Club outlasted the Portland Timbers and will be celebrating outside of New York City Hall on Tuesday morning. No New York Team in any sport since the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2011 have been able to accomplish a success like this.
It has been an up and down season for NYCFC, but in a way that seemed to steel them for the adversity in the game. Portland scored the latest goal ever scored in a MLS Cup final to tie the game and send it to overtime. It was a questionable goal at that with Taylor Twellman and Mark Clattenberg saying on the ABC broadcast that a foul should have been called and the goal disallowed. NYCFC seemed shell-shocked in the first half of overtime trying to grapple with what had happened.
Dec 11, 2021; Portland, OR, USA; New York City FC midfielder Valentin Castellanos (11) scores a goal during the first half against the Portland Timbers the 2021 MLS Cup championship game at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
They were so close to winning in regulation with Maxi Moralez connecting with Taty Castellanos for the go ahead goal off a set piece in the 41st minute. Their goal celebration was marred when a Portland fan struck Jesus Medina in the face with a beer can thrown from the stands. It was that kind of day for NYCFC. When Portland scored in the waning seconds of the match, it was a beer can to the face of every NYCFC fan. Victory and joy snatched away at the last second.
Dec 11, 2021; Portland, OR, USA; New York City FC forward Jesus Medina (19) is hit by a beer thrown from the stands while celebrating a goal by midfielder Valentin Castellanos (11) during the first half against the Portland Timbers in the 2021 MLS Cup championship game at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Ronny Deila summed it up after the match. “That was, of course, really, really tough. I think we struggled the first half in extra time. But in the second, we started to play more. That was the biggest challenge in the game that we stopped playing. We didn’t get too much results when we go into the second half as well. We should keep the ball, cause them more problems. And we could do that, but we started to defend very early, and in the end, we get punished. Just again, shows what kind of character is in the team when you come back from that and get through the two extra times, and then in the end, also win the penalty shootout in this stadium on the artificial [field]in the weather they love to do, and the atmosphere was electric. So belief and discipline and hard work, honest hard work is paying off, and that’s great to see.”
NYCFC had folded in games like this in the past, but this time it was different. This time they rose above adversity and went on to win. Delia spoke about the team’s response.
“The game was a very similar journey than the whole season’s been. There’s been so many ups and downs. But we have learned from our downs and we have also learned from our ups, and we are bonded more and more during the season. Everything came together in the end, and what we have done in these playoffs and also the month before we come into the playoffs has been so impressive. I’m so proud of the boys. I’m so grateful to be the coach of this team. And you see the honest work, how they deal with hard times during the game. They come back. How they support each other, give everything for the club and for each other. That was amazing, and they are winners now. They are winners, and that’s going to be there forever.”
Sean Johnson seemed to agree.
“I think credit to Portland. They made it a game the entire time, over the course of the 90 minutes, extra time, they were great to score right there at the end and make it a game. Just wanted to make sure that we stayed level. You know, we had been in that position before. I told the guys we had the experience, not to panic, not to get down on ourselves because there’s more of an opportunity to go for it and win the game. And no one said it would be easy. It’s been difficult, but that’s how it should be to win a championship and to triumph in going through so much adversity. Yeah, that’s what it took to win this game. The penalty shootout, the only insider is that I was doing my best to make a save for the team. Happened to make two. The guys made two, and yeah, it feels good to be a champion.”
There is a star above the NYCFC crest now. Yes, they are champions, but they are also a very young team. Who knows if this is just the first of many? Doubtless there will be changes. Castellanos seems destined to be sold to a bigger club. Maxi Moralez is in negotiations to extend his contract one more year, but if you look at the core of the team there is youth and promise there. Winning on the road in New England, Philadelphia, and Portland is no easy accomplishment. For now, NYCFC will enjoy the win. Ronny Deila put it best. “We are going to enjoy this win for a couple of weeks. Then we start looking at the [Concacaf] Champions League.”
