Two hundred and thirty-eight days ago, 27 teams had a vision of lifting the MLS Cup. That dream has long since been extinguished for all but Portland Wood and New York City FC, who competes in the tournament’s hottieth event on Saturday (3 p.m. ET, live on ABC).
The first time Rose City played host to the final, the airborne Providence Park was the setting for the Timbers’ third MLS Cup appearance in seven years. It’s a dream venue for the tournament and a match to be seen or danced in the streets in one of its most fervent markets, or a long-awaited bonus for a club. flashy set at NYCFC, who have shifted their strategy from star power to growth potential.
With the final stage set, Jeff Carlisle, Kyle Bonagura, Caitlin Murray, Dan Hajducky and Austin Lindberg of ESPN preview the MLS Cup, predicting who will lift the silver trophy on Saturday and who will be disappointed by the defeat.
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Even before the $85 million renovation project expanded Providence Park’s capacity to 25,218 ahead of the 2019 season, the Timbers had one of the best family atmospheres in Main Football League. This historic site has served many purposes since its original construction was completed in 1893, but over time it has evolved into a spiritual home for football in the United States. USA.
Even as modernization comes with expansion, the stadium – tucked away in the Goose Hollow precinct – retains its historic charm. Despite the presence of grass, it’s a fitting venue for the biggest stage the league has to offer. Despite the gloomy weather expected on Saturday when Portland hosts the MLS Cup for the first time, the atmosphere has to be a point of pride for the tournament.
What difference can one result or four points make.
If the Timbers lose Real salt lake in the Western Conference finals or finishing with fewer points than NYCFC, the MLS Cup will be played at Yankee Stadium, and playing in the largest media market in the country will benefit it, even if one Yankee Stadium is sold out. an awkward look on TV.
It’s not uncommon for both NYCFC and Portland to play better at home in the regular season, but few teams in the league have a big disparity between home and away records than the other two. NYCFC has twice as many points at home (34) as at home (17), while Portland’s score (35/20) is similar. On the face of it is reason enough to pick the Timbers as the favorites to win their second MLS Cup, after their first game was a 2-1 win over Columbus in 2015.
“I hear it’s a very good atmosphere, but there’s nothing more fun than playing in a stadium with a good atmosphere,” said NYCFC coach Ronny Delia. “We faced a lot of noise when we played away, but we played away with the best team in the league (New England) and did very well. And it was also quite noisy. there and also in Philadelphia. This can be a step up when you’re talking about noise but I think we have players that go through these things over and over again.”
On Wednesday, Delia said he still hasn’t settled into the starting lineup. The only change he confirmed was obvious: after missing the convention final against Philadelphia due to a red card, the Golden Shoe award winner Valentin Castellanos will return to the squad. That would certainly provide a glimmer of light for the NYCFC which has long stagnated against the Confederacy.
Portland also had reinforcements in the attack. Dairon Asprilla missed the conference final due to a red card and Sebastian Blanco is an unused filler due to injury. It remains to be seen how effective Blanco can be out of a hamstring injury, but with him available at the weekend, it’s reasonable to expect him to have some roles on Saturday.
During the regular season, NYCFC and Portland play in contrasting styles. Only 4 teams owned the ball with a higher percentage of possession than Pigeon (52.99%), while no team played more counter-attacking than Portland, the team with the lowest possession rate in the MLS (44.9%). However, they still ended up in the same spot: NYCFC’s 64.65 xG placed 2nd in the MLS, while Portland’s 56.18 came in 4th – and both scored 56 goals, just behind New England (65) and Kansas Sports City (58). – Bonagura
Guess:
Any defensive weakness that had befallen Portland in the regular season was remedied in the knockout stages, with just one goal conceded in three games. It is true that the Timbers have not faced an attack like the NYCFC, especially since Castellanos has returned to the roster. But with Blanco and Asprilla returning to play at least some role in Saturday’s game, and with the full presence of Providence Park, look for the Timbers to prevail. – Carlisle
NYCFC has beaten the most regular team in league history on the road in these playoffs, so winning at Portland is certainly a logical outcome. Just not likely. Portland is simply playing at another level at Providence Park and with the support they can expect on Saturday, that will deliver on that day. – Bonagura
For anyone who hasn’t been to a Timbers game at Providence Park, the easiest thing to describe the atmosphere is Anti-Yankee Stadium. The fans, including the Timbers’ Big Army, will be at the top of the NYCFC, and it has to be the loudest crowd the Timbers have played before since before the pandemic hit. Also: Since MLS eliminated the neutral home team for the MLS Cup in 2012, the home team has won all but two: when the Timbers won in Columbus in 2015 in an odd game, and when Seattle Sounders FC won on penalties in Toronto after an unsuccessful game in 2016. The home field advantage in the MLS matters. The Timbers’ defense is a concern and will be difficult if Castellanos has a good game, but coach Giovanni Savarese usually predicts that. – Murray
It certainly feels like the stars align with Portland. It held the first final, it seems Diego ValeriTime in Stumptown is passing. It’s a great fit if you’re a four-time MLS All-Star and one of only three players in league history with both 80 goals and 80 assists alongside another Philip F. Anschutz Trophy. Luckily, both the heart and the head say this is the Timbers to do. – Hajduck
It’s worth noting that the NYCFC, whose road form in 2021 is the best for pedestrians, went to New England and then Philadelphia to knock out the Eastern Conference’s two best teams. However, what lies ahead in Portland will be something completely different. Saturday’s MLS Cup is billed as the most atmospheric and emotional contest in league history, and if that passionate fan support doesn’t keep the Timbers in the competition, I don’t know. – Lindberg
