Portland Timbers Win MLS Is Back Championship over Orlando City SC

The Portland Timbers are your MLS is Back Tournament champions.

Led by goals from Larrys Mabiala and Dario Zuparic, the Timbers knocked off Orlando City 2-1 Tuesday evening to win the title. Mauricio Pereyra scored the lone goal for Orlando City.

While the MLS is Back Tournament was technically a preseason event, the win was nonetheless huge for Portland, clinching it a berth in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League. The event was also a resounding success after a rocky start that saw both the FC Dallas and Nashville SC withdraw because of a number of positive test results for COVID-19.

No games were canceled during the actual tournament, however, and the league didn't register a single positive test result in the past 32 days. The league's plan to gather all of the team's in a bubble environment, without fans in attendance for the tournament, worked quite well.

Portland also took home $300,000 in prize money for winning the tourney.

As for the game itself, it's rare that two center backs provide all the scoring for a club—Portland's Sebastian Blanco had been the team's best player heading into Tuesday's final, with three goals and five assists in the tournament—but such was the case Tuesday.

Mabiala provided the first in the 27th minute off a brilliant free kick into the box from Diego Valeri. All Mabiala had to do was peel off his defender and head down the service, bouncing in the game's first goal past a helpless Pedro Gallese.

Pereyra pulled one back in the 39th minute, however, after Nani found him with a low cross in the box. Pereyra managed to corral the pass, fend off a defender, regather his balance and smash home the equalizing goal.

But another set piece in the 66th minute was the killing blow for Orlando City.

This time, Jeremy Ebobisse deflected a ball in the box toward Zuparic after a scramble off a corner. Zuparic showed some quick reflexes to redirect the ball past a kick-save effort from Gallese.

The Timbers' experience shone through in the win, as their normally stout defense mostly contained the dangerous Orlando City attack, led by Nani, and they capitalized on opportunities from set pieces.

The MLS will now turn to its regular season, which is set to begin Wednesday in Frisco, Texas, when FC Dallas hosts Nashville SC. The league will attempt to hold its season in various local markets, include travel between cities, largely be held without fans and include a comprehensive testing program.

"We have to see if it works," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said, per ESPN. "If it does, we go through with it. If it doesn't, we'll have to adjust."