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The Portland Timbers have never hosted an MLS Cup final. New York City FC has never played in one. That all changes Saturday, Dec. 11, in MLS Cup 2021, which will feature an unprecedented matchup for the 26th championship in Major League Soccer history.
Both teams were the No. 4 seedin their respective conference, but Portland will hostthe title game because it compiled abetter regular-season record (55 points vs. 51 points). Greg Zuerlein Jersey The Timbers survived the Western Conference gauntlet bybeating Minnesota United, knocking out No. 1 seed Colorado on the roadand then dispatching playoff CinderellaReal Salt Lakein the Western Conference Championship played on home turf.
NYCFC's road in the EasternConference took itpast Atlanta United, No. 1-seed New England in a penalty-kick shootoutand a No. 2-seeded Philadelphia Union team that was decimated by a COVID-19 outbreak. The Cityzens, who scored a late goal to oust Philly, overcame a history of playoff failureto reach their first championship game in any competition.
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While NYCFC hasexcelled by imposing its style on the opposition, dominating po se sion, winning the ball back immediatelyand pushing numbers into the attack, the Timbers adapt to their opposition and their available personnel. Portland has shown it can win through itsdeadly transition game, a proactive high-energy attackor even by eking out a defensive struggle.
Lamarcus Joyner Jersey How to watch MLS Cup final: Portland vs. NYCFCDate: Saturday, Dec. 11Time:3p.m. ETTV channel: ABCSpanish-language TV: UniMas, TUDNStreaming:The 2021 MLS Cup final between the Portland Timbers and New York City FC is a single-game championship match. The Timbers will host the match at Providence Park in Portland, Ore. This is the first time that Portland is hosting a league final.
ABC (English), Unimasand TUDN (Spanish) will carry the match, and all three channels can be . New users can . If the 90 minutes of regulation end in a draw, 30 minutes of extra time will be played, followed by a penalty-kick shootout, if nece sary.
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A victory for the Timbers would give them their second Orlando Pace Jersey MLS Cup trophy after their 2015 triumph over the Columbus Crew on the road. Portland lost in its only other appearance in the final, in 2018 in Atlanta. New York City FC is in its first final of any variety. A trophy would break new groundfor a club that hasonly been in existence since 2015. The Timbers joined MLS in 2011.
Portland Timbers vs. NYCFC lineupsSebastian Blanco starts for the Timbers. He said he was fully recovered from the hamstring injury that kept him out of the Western Conference final and the Timbers are rolling him out there with Santiago Moreno making way.They'll also have winger Dairon Asprilla back from suspension, but regular holding midfielder Cristhian Paredes is replaced by George Fochive, who has just 11 starts all season.
Portland Timbers starting lineup (4-2-3-1, left to right):12-Steve Clark-GK (captain) 5-Claudio Bravo, 13-Dario Zuparic, 33-Larrys Mabiala, 22-Josecarlos van Rankin 20-George Fochive, 21-Diego Chara (captain) 10-Sebastian Blanco,23-Yimmi Chara, 27-Dairon Asprilla9-Felipe Mora
Portland Timbers subs (9):31-Aljaz Ivacic(GK), 28-Pablo Bonilla (RB), 85-Zac McGraw (CB), 25-Bill Tuiloma (CB), 22-Cristhian Paredes (CDM),8-Diego Valeri (CAM),30-Santiago Moreno (LW / RW), 44-Marvin Loria (LW / RW), 11-Jaroslaw Niezgoda (FW)
NYCFC will be glad to have MLS Golden Boot winner Taty Castellanos back from suspension. Manager Ronny Deila fieldshis regular lineup with the only surprise being Gudmundur Thorarin son playing left back in lieu of Malte Amundsen, who had started every match in the postseason. Deila has a host ofattacking options off the bench should his teamneed a sparkat some point in the match.
NYCFCstarting lineup (4-2-3-1,left to right):1-Sean Johnson-GK (captain) 20-Gudmundur Thorarin son,6-Alexander Callens, 4-Maxime Chanot, 24-Tayvon Gray 7-Alfredo Morales, 16-James Sands 42-Santiago Rodriguez, 10-Maxi Moralez, 19-Jesus Medina 11-Valentin "Taty"Castellanos
NYCFCsubs (9):13-Luis Barraza (GK), 2-Malte Amundsen Cam Akers Jersey (LB), 15-Tony Rocha (CDM), 26-Nicolas Austin Blythe Jersey Acevedo (CDM), 23-Gedion Zelalem (CM), 8-Thiago Andrade (LW), 43-Talles Magno (LW), 17-Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (RW/LW/CF), 9-Heber(CF)
MLS Cupbetting odds & predictionOdds courtesy of DraftKings
There isn't a recent enough meeting to use as a point of reference for projecting how this game might unfold. Thelast time these two teams met in an official match was well over a year ago in a2020 summertournament that marked the league's return to action after the COVID-induced pause. Portland won that quarterfinal match 3-1, but NYCFC manager Ronny Deila had only been at the helm for a little over 10 matches, and his squad today has a very different complexion.
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These are two talented, deep, well-coached teamsand bothare on a roll. There will be little to separate them. So it's surprising that in an evenly matched game, the home team and especially one with the home-field advantage like Portland's with its raucoussupporters (11W-4L-2D home recordin 2021) is not the odds-on favorite as of publication time. Here's what else Portland has going for it: its manager, Giovanni Savarese.
The former MLS goal-scoring starhas a Alec Ogletree Jersey strong track record as a coachin tournament play, leading the Timbers to two MLS Cup finals (2018, 2021), an MLS is Back tournament victory (2020), and four playoff berths in hisfour seasons. He has a feel for the game and his players, and a knack for coming up with the righttactical game plan to exploit the opponent. And he has the team'sbuy-in. The silverware is there for the taking inthe biggest game of his managerial career.
Pick:Portland Timbers pick'em Asian Handicap -105 (draw is a push)
MLS Cup prediction:Portland Timbers 2, NYCFC 0
Moneyline (regulation): Portland +180/Draw +215/NYCFC +170Spread: Portland +0.5 (-190)/NYCFC -0.5 (+165)O/U 2.5 total goals: Over +110/Under -140Both teams to score: Yes -130/No +100
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