Portland vs New York City: Long-awaited title for the Citizens

New York City and Portland have only one league title between them, so their meeting in the MLS Cup final is already a surprise. Will City manage to win their first trophy, or will the Timbers still prevent the long-awaited triumph?

The Timbers have long been known for their spectacular play, and even their defensive problems have not stopped them from making the playoffs. Portland conceded 52 goals in the regular season, their worst mark in the top 6 of the Western Conference. Nevertheless, they have won their last six games, four times on goal. One of the main heroes of the current playoffs in the Timbers' squad was guard Larrys Mabiala, who scored two goals in 3 games. Sebastian Blanco also scored twice, and thanks to his double-double goal Portland defeated Minnesota (3-1). As for the current roster, Portland have five players on the injured list, but only Eric Williamson, who played 14 games in the regular season, can be considered a serious loss.

In the game before last, Portland were very lucky. In the first 40 minutes, they could concede 1-2 goals from Colorado, and only, in the end, Portland scored the decisive goal and won, 1:0. However, Giovanni Savarese's men recovered and handed Real Salt Lake a 2-0 lead in the semi-final. With no serious threats, the opponents took only four shots on target from outside the penalty area. In the 67th minute, Portland could have taken it to the break, but Jaroslaw Niezgoda failed to seize an excellent opportunity.

City, like the Timbers, finished in 4th place in their conference at the end of the regular season. New York City's current unbeaten streak stands at eight games, with five wins in regulation time during that stretch. Valentin Castellanos has become the undisputed leader of the club and one of the best players in the MLS. The Argentine forward scored 19 goals and became the top scorer, while he had scored eight times in the previous six games. New York City approach the final without their two key players, Anton Tinnerholm and Keaton Parks. Castellanos missed the last meeting because of his suspension, but he will be back in the squad for the game against Portland.

The last two games have been very tough for the team. Ronny Deila's team defeated Western Conference winner New England 3-2 on penalties in an away game. In their semi-final meeting with Philadelphia, New York City trailed early in the 2nd half but converted two clear-cut chances to take a 2-1 lead. Without Castellanos, the chances were hard to come by, but the defenders were almost flawless, apart from Alexander Callens' own goal.

The bookmakers have rolled out a roughly even line for an MLS Cup win, and those odds are fair enough on the game. Portland play well at home, but problems in defense can appear at any moment, and New York are obliged to improve on offense compared to the last match. The visitors were 3rd in the league in xG (expected goals) in the regular season, so it will be extremely difficult for the home team to contain them. The following betting options look great:

• Both teams to score - yes for 1.75;
• Team New York City - League Winner for 1.85;
• New York City to win in regulation time for 2.60.