Alexander Callens hammered home the final penalty kick to seal NYCFC’s win and eliminate the record-breaking Supporters’ Shield winners. The No. 4 seed had led for six minutes in regulation time and nine minutes of extra time in an enthralling and dramatic Conference Semifinal at the No. 1 seed.
Valentin Castellanos and Santiago Rodriguez scored for the visitors in their second match of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. But Castellanos was sent off for receiving his second yellow card offense four minutes after heading in his second postseason goal in the 109th minute, ensuring he’ll miss this weekend’s trip to Philadelphia Union to decide the East’s MLS Cup representative.
With right back Tayvon Gray appearing to suffer a leg injury, and NYCFC exhausting all of their substitution windows, the visitors were effectively reduced to nine men. That helped the hosts equalize a second time, when Tajon Buchanan volleyed in Emmanuel Boateng‘s cross in the 118th minute.
Buksa scored New England’s first equalizer 109 minutes earlier on Carles Gil‘s free-kick service to answer Rodriguez’s side-footed snap finish.
But NYCFC had the larger share of chances over 120 minutes and were deserving to advance against New England, which failed in their bid to become the eighth Supporters’ Shield winners to also capture MLS Cup.
