By Official Florida FC

Sean Johnson is a Major League Soccer champion. The longtime goalkeeper, and UCF alumnus, helped NYCFC win MLS Cup on Saturday in Portland.

The 32-year-old was named MLS Cup MVP after making a pair of saves in a penalty kick shootout to give the Pigeons their first trophy in the club’s seven-year existence. Johnson made four saves in the first 120 minutes, but saved his best work for the shootout.

The two finished 1-1 after two hours on a soggy afternoon at Providence Park. Portland Felipe Mora equalized with seconds remaining in stoppage time on a shot that Johnson could do little about.

“It feels unbelievable to be able to call ourselves champions,” Johnson told mlssoccer.com after the match. “What a ride so far, this journey was crazy this year, so many ups, so many downs and we talked amongst ourselves before the game and said it’s a massive opportunity to make it all worth it. This is what we live for, these moments. To be the MVP of the [MLS Cup Final], it means the whole world, but it means so much more to lift a cup for this club.”

Johnson was between the pipes for MLS Cup playoff disappointments in 2017, 2019 and last year’s wild loss to Orlando City in penalty kicks. But, after 11 years and 321 MLS matches, Johnson won his first club trophy.

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