Portland Timbers, the team where the Peruvian plays, had a close match in the final against Pedro Gallese’s Orlando City; however, he was able to beat him 2 to 1 and take the championship. This is the second consecutive year in which a Peruvian has been champion in North America, as Raúl Ruidíaz won the coveted trophy with Seattle Sounders last season.
After the stoppage of the pandemic in the United States, soccer returned with a new format where teams would face off in one-game brackets and would only be played at Disney. In this way, Alexander Callens ‘New York City, Edison Flores’ DC United, Raúl Ruidíaz’s Seattle Sounders, Andy Polo’s Portland Timbers, and Pedro Gallese’s Orlando City would embark on their path to the title of the «MLS IS BACK «. However, as the tournament progressed, most of the teams that had Peruvians in their ranks were eliminated, except for Timbers and Orlando, the finalists.
On the one hand, the Portland team arrived with all its stars, such as the Argentine Sebastián Blanco and Diego Valeri, as well as Polo, who had been important when he scored a goal in the quarterfinals. On the other, Orlando City arrived with Nani among its ranks, the former player and star of Manchester United and the Portuguese national team, as well as goalkeeper Gallese, the undisputed starter in the team and with important participation.
The match ended 2 to 1 in favor of the Polo team. Mabiala scored the first goal for Timbers in the 27th minute until the Uruguayan Pereyra made a great play in the opposite area and put the tie for Orlando in the 38th minute. However, after a double save by Gallese, defender Zuparic pushed the rebound decreeing the final score.
