Portland Timbers vs NYCFC summary: score, goals and highlights, MLS 2021 Cup Final

Congratulations NYCFC ...2021 MLS Champions !!!!!!

Tears all round for the men in green who lie distraught on the Providence Park surface as the side from New York celebrate their first ever title.

Timbers have to score the next penalty....

NYCFC ahead 2-0 on pens

Next up, Valeri has his kick saved by Johnson

NYCFC's second is saved as Morales sees his kick saved by Clark.

Fine save from Johnson

PTFC up next and it's Mora who has his shot saved

Kicks to be taken in front of the Timbers Army !

High drama here in Providence Park .....

The whistle sounds here in Portland and it will be penalty kicks that resolve the 2021 MLS Cup final.

We're in the twilight zone now where no side wants to make a mistake that would see the title slip to the other side. NYCFC seem to have shaken off the psychological blow of the last minute equaliser

Moreno tries his luck from long range but far too easy for Johnson who smothers the ball. Three minutes away from a penalty shoot out !!!!

Five minutes remain as NYCFC mount an attack and win a corner. Danger for the home side as the ball falls to Gray and the defender whacks the ball high and wide.

Castellanos has been missing in action since his goal. Very discreet afternoon from the Argentine striker .....

Clark called into action for PTFC as Johnson is immediately called into action at the other end to save NY. Brief burst of action from both sides.

Not a second of pause from the Timbers Army who have supported the side from the off and even when all seemed lost, the noise levels never dropped. Excellent support from one of the finest in MLS.

Off we go... final 15' of football in the 2021 season....

The whistle sounds and we head towards the final 15 minutes. Portland will want to finish things off in regular time with the men from NY on the ropes.

A minute remains in this first period of extra time and one senses that NYCFC would sign up for spot kicks now.

NYCFC really are on the ropes and Delia really need to look at his bench and introduce some fresh legs and ideas as his side are pegged back by the men in green.

The ball falls to Valeri and the former Lanus man fails to keep the shot down and drives high and over the NYCFC bar.

Five remain in this first period of extra time and it's all Timbers at the moment with the 94th minute strike adding a jump start to their evening when all seemed lost.

Tired legs now visible on the rain soaked Providence Park pitch and it's Portland who have adapted better to the situation buoyed by the late goal.

Medina off with Magno on for NYCFC

Great hit from Paredes and Johnson saves well. Portland now with their tails up as the home fans fire their side along with great noise levels.

Diego Valeri to score the winner ? One for the script writers .....

Off we go again in extra time.... A further 30 minutes await. Heartbreak for NYCFC and important that the psychological blow doesn't impact on their morale.

PTFC equalising goal

All over in Oregon .... Mora's last gasp strike send he game to extra time... Two halves of 15' await to divide the sides.

Major drama in Providence Park as the Chilean striker pounces to send the game to extra time.

Goooooooooollllll. Mora scores with the final kick of the game ......

Guðmundur Þórarinsson swapped for Amundsen

4 minutes of time to be added.

Medina carded for kicking the ball away

Last minute of normal time. NYCFC on the cusp of glory.

Medina breaks and Chara intercepts with a sublime challenge to save the day for Portland.

Valeri set to come on for the Timbers. Possibly the last appearance for the Argentine at Providence Park ? Van Rankin makes way for the striker.

It's the NYCFC fans who are making all the noise now as they sense glory for their side is just minutes away. Three of normal time plus whatever ref Villarreal adds on.

Timbers now throwing everything at the NYCFC goal. Too little, too late ?

Change for Portland: Niezgoda replaces Asprilla

Mora fails to latch onto a Chara free and Portland let a great opportunity pass them by.... chances like that have been scarce this evening for the side in green.

Rodriguez carded for time wasting as he left the pitch.

Ten to go in Portland. Ten minutes for NYCFC to hold out and secure their first ever title.

NYCFC set to bring on Tajouri for the first change for the visitors this afternoon and its Rodriguez who makes way for the Lybian international

Time for Giovanni Savarese to dip into the bench again ? Diego Valeri ?

Van Rankin aims to cross but his effort becomes a shot as Portland finally up the tempo in attack.

15' remain in Portland and that statistic regarding shots on target tells one all you need to know. NYCFC are closing in on their first title.

Shots on target for Timbers: 0

Play help up as Castellanos is on the ground and is being attended to NYCFC medics. The Argentine striker is okay to continue and we're back underway.

Slightly more than 20' remain for the home side and as things stand, it's hard to see where the goals (or goal) for the home side will come from.

Chara has yet to really get a grip on the central area for Portland as Asprilla goes for the spectacular but the flag is up

Despite their dominance in possession, it's still NYCFC that control this game.

Portland have still yet to grab this game by the scruff of the neck and still yet to test Johnson in the NYCFC goal.

Blanco makes way for Moreno..... Fochive also given a rest by Giovanni Savarese

First changes of the night: PTFC switch as Moreno and Paredes are set to come on.

First card of the night goes Van Rankin as he collides into Rodriguez.

Medina shoots and Clark, once again is called into action and saves well to deny NYCFC a second.

The game becoming a little more open now as Portland look to claw back into goal as Rodriguez drives and forces Clark to react well to the shot. NYCFC certainly dominating when it comes to half-chances.

Great counter from Portland with the Chara brothers instrumental in the break. Free for PTFC as Chara floats the ball in and NY clear for a corner.

Morales drives the ball off the crossbar. What a strike from the Argentine as NYCFC press looking for a second goal that would really make the task an uphill one for Portland.

NYCFC seem to be quicker out of the blocks in the early stages of the second half.

Despite looking in trouble earlier on with a muscle issue, Morales remains on the pitch for NYCFC.

All set for the second half of the 2021 MLS Cup Final ...can Portland find a way back ?

PTFC respond to missle throwing individual

The whistle sounds in Providence Park and it's the visitors from NY who lead at the interval. The men in sky blue did enjoy the better spells infront of goal and Portland have been all too predictable in their build up play with Johnson in the NYCFC goal yet to be really tested by the home side.

2 minutes to be added at the end of the half as Blanco goes close cutting onto his right foot and the ball fizzes inches wide.

It's the fans decked out in blue who now make the noise and first blood to the visitors.

Fine delivery from Morales as Medina is struck with a bottle from the stands during the celebrations! Not cool!

The game is very delicately balanced with Portland having more initiative in general play but New York looking more menacing as the get closer to the PTFC goal.

Worry for NYCFC as Morales seems to have developed a muscular problem.

Portland's build up is decent but final ball way too predictable with a lofted effort into the centre and far too easy for the visitors to deal with.

As we approach the 35' mark, neither keeper has really been stretched with goal scoring chances sometjing of a premum so far tonight.

Decent last ten minutes from Portland as they enjoy a spell of domination. The game swinging in waves now with both teams enjoying bright moments. Castellanos goes close and is just inches away from latching onto a ball from Morales.

Asprilla has a shot from long range but the Colombian fails to secure enough purchase on the ball as Portland turn up the heat

Couple of half-chances for Portland as New York are stretched .... poor corner and the visitors break. The game has kicked into life now after a discreet opening 20 minutes.

Tension flaring as Mbiala and Castellanos clash after a disputed ball. The ref awards a free for NY much to the annoyance of the home fans.

NYCFC certainly look like the more creative of the two sides with the Timbers pumping long ball down the channels as the New Yorkers look to play neat passes through the centre with Castellanos a constant threat.

The ball falls to Blanco on the edge of the area and the striker sees his shot deflected and NYCFC manage to avert the danger.

New York outplaying the home side after early Portland domination as Fochive clashes into Sands and is lucky to escape with just a warning.

Much better in the past few minutes from New York.

Poor delivery from Morales and he wins yet another corner as the ball falls to Guðmundur Þórarinsson and the Icelander heads wide

Castellanos on the ball and immediately the Argentine is swarmed upon by the side in green. NYCFC yet to really get a grip on the game just as the ball falls to the NO. 11 and the visitors win the first corner of the night.

Huge cheer from the home side for every ball the men in green win as Portland start to impose themselves on the game penning NYCFC deep.

Early nerves apparent from both sides as they look to ease their way into the action.

First effort of the night falls to the men from the 'Big Apple' but the effort is straight at Clark in the Portland goal who smothers comfortbaly,.

We're finally up and runninng as Timbers start the game

Pre-game prediction..... Feel Portland will have too much for New York and forecast a 2-1 win for the home side.

Pre-game protocol out of the way, time to focus on the game.... 

National anthem time as local rock band Portugal the Man offer their version of the 'Stars & Stripes'

Just a reminder that the playing surface here in Portland is artificial and not natural grass. A handful of MLS sides use this turf and this has the blessing of the MLS.

Chants of PT-FC, PT-FC greet the teams as the rain lashes the 25,000 fans packed into Providence Park. Excellent atmosphere building here in Soccer City !

Portland will be in their iconic all green kit tonight with NYCFC in their sky-blue and white.

Rain still continues to fall at a packed Providence Park .... 98% decked out in the green and gold of Portland with a small sector tinged with the sky blue of New York City.

TV airing of college basketball is apparently one of the reasons being cited for the delay in the kick-off here in Portland.

A reminder of the starting XI's for tonight's final should you just be joining us. Kick-off will be in approximately ten minutes.

Portugal The Man to play national anthem

Local Portland band Portugal the Man have been entrusted to play the national anthem pre-game today at Providence Park

NYCFC fans in fine voice

21:23 (CET) or 15:23 (ET) seems to be the definitive kick-off time..... Don't understand why they just can't advertise that as the ko time in advance ?!?!

No let-up in the rain as ko looms

Despite tonight's MLS Cup final being scheduled at 21:00 CET/15:00 ET, MLS games do have a habit of starting later than advertised....

PTFC: One to watch - Diego Chara

Despite being something of a veteran at the ripe old age of 35, the Colombian central player is the fulcrum for this Portland Timbers side and the heart of their creativity.

NYCFC: One to watch - Valentin 'Tati' Castellanos

The 23-year-old from Mendoza (Argentina) is a goal machine and will have the Timbers defenders on maximum alert today. 36 goals in 84 games in the sky blue shirt is a handsome return for the Argentine striker.

Timber Joey is hyped !!!!

Diego Chara who captains the Timbers tonight is the sole survivor from the 2015 side who won the MLS Cup in Columbus. Diego Valeri who bagged the early goal against the Crew starts on the bench tonight and Darion Asprilla also featured late in the game for the Oregon side.

Team news: NYCFC XI

Team news: PTFC XI

NYCFC: Road to the final

Eastern Conference champions New York City FC got the better of a Philadelphia Union side who were without nine key players, ruled out after testing positive for Covid-19. They had to come from behind against Philly, who went in front after Alexander Callens turned a Kacper Przybylko cross past his own keeper. That lead lasted just two minutes. Maxi Moralez rifled City back level and the game was settled in the dying moments when Thórarinsson squared to Talles Magno, leaving the substitute with a simple tap-in.

PTFC: Road to the final

Portland Timbers booked their place in the 2021 MLS Cup final after beating 10-man Real Salt Lake 2-0 in the Western Conference final on home turf last week. Felipe Mora set them on their way, bundling in the opener from close range on five minutes. Santiago Moreno’s sensational strike on the hour put the game to bed.

Timber Jim and Joey's victory log explained

Timber Joeys logs ready under the Portland rain

The Timbers Army are already present in their location behind the goal at Providence Park and are known for their unconditional support and amazing pre-game tifos. Am sure they will have something special prepared for today's game.

The City 'fam' with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola leading the way send a message of support to NYCFC. The MLS franchise forms part of the City Group football portfolio.

MLS Cup final weather

December in Portland, Oregon, it could only be rain and more rain. A brisk 8C/46F will be the temperature come kick-off and rain expected throughout the game.

Despite the home advantage and the partisan Portland crowd, NYCFC will be cheered on by about 1,000 fans who have made the 6 hour flight West.

MLS Cup final referee

Armando Villarreal will take charge of the 2021 MLS Cup between Portland Timbers and New York City FC today at Providence Park.

The Big Apple behind NYCFC

NYCFC, who won their first Eastern Conference title with a 2-1 triumph over a covid hampered Philadelphia Union side last Sunday, are chasing their city’s first major sporting championship since 2011, when the NFL's New York Giants beat the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XLVI.

Timbers start as favourites

The last four MLS Cup finals have been won by the home team - and Portland’s recent record at Providence Park also offers cause for optimism among the Timbers Army that they will be celebrating a second league championship on Saturday night.

Portland’s total of 11 home victories in the 2021 regular season was bettered only by Supporters’ Shield winners New England Revolution, and Giovanni Saverese’s men are now on a run of four straight wins at their stadium. MLSSoccer.com’s Matthew Doyle also points out that Timbers are 9-2 in MLS postseason games at Providence Park since 2011. It’s additionally worth noting that they have won five out of their six previous meetings with NYCFC.

Today marks the Timbers third MLS Cup final having won the title back in 2015 in Columbus. Three years later the side from Oregon fell away to Atlanta and today's final marks NYCFC's first ever final match.

Hello and a very warm welcome of tonight's MLS Cup Final from Portland, Oregon as local side Portland Timbers face NYCFC with the action starting at 15:00 (ET), 12:00 (PT) and 21:00 (CET).