John Tranchina

2025 US Open Cup Round 3: Patrick Rakovsky of Phoenix Rising narrowly voted TheCup.us Player of Round

April 28, 2025 by John Tranchina

peter rakovsky 2025 us open cup round 3 player of the round — Graphic by Phil Naegely | Photo: FC Tulsa

It is the type of pressure situation that can define a player’s legacy. For Phoenix Rising FC goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky, that moment occurred on April 16, when he made a spectacular diving save on a penalty kick by Tulsa’s Taylor Calheira in the 121st minute of his team’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Third Round contest against fellow USL Championship side FC Tulsa.

Following that big stop in a game tied 2-2, Rakovsky made another excellent diving save in the shootout and the Rising FC prevailed 4-2 in PKs to win and advance to the Fourth Round. Phoenix did all of this despite playing the last 45 minutes of the match down a man after Rémi Cabral’s second yellow card in the 75th minute. Now Rising FC advances to face the Houston Dynamo FC (MLS) at home on May 7.

His performance against Tulsa, which included five saves in the game overall, earned Rakovsky TheCup.us Player of the Round Award for the Third Round. The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters and select backers (those that pledge $10 or more) from TheCup.us’ Patreon team.

Rakovsky edged out MD Myers of the USL Championship’s Charleston Battery, who scored three goals in his team’s 4-0 victory over USL League One’s South Georgia Tormenta, by just two voting points (players get three points for a first-place vote, one for a second-place vote). It’s the second year in a row Myers just missed out on the POTR award, after he also scored a hat trick in last year’s tournament, also over South Georgia Tormenta (making him the first Modern Era player to score hat tricks in back-to-back tournaments), and falling just two points short in POTR voting then, too (to Zico Bailey of New Mexico United).

Dion Scoff of USL League One’s Union Omaha, who scored the only goal in his club’s 1-0 “cupset” win over San Antonio FC (USL-C), was third in the voting. Rakovsky becomes the third straight goalkeeper to win the award, which is just the second time that has happened since 2006. He is also the first German player to win the award.

Rakovsky, 32, has experience playing in big moments, having made 51 appearances for Orange County SC in 2021 and 2022, winning the USL Championship title in 2021 (when he made a PK save in the league final), even earning 18 caps with his native Germany’s youth national teams.

He had already enjoyed a strong performance in the game as the second overtime period was ticking down, having also made a diving stop on Calheira’s header from 12 yards out six minutes into the first OT period. Tulsa’s Al Hassan Toure also nearly ended it in the 14th minute of overtime, but his point-blank header sailed just over the crossbar.

So when the officials called a handball on a Phoenix defender in the box just before overtime was set to expire, it was the key moment in the match. Calheira had hit the left post on a shot from 10 yards out about five minutes earlier and had already scored on penalty kicks in each of the two previous rounds of the tournament for FC Tulsa.

It seemed almost inevitable that he would do so again, but when Calheira shot low to the left side, Rakovsky dove and made the save.

“Obviously, I know in my head, if I save it, if I don’t, it’s over,” Rakovsky said of Calheira’s PK. “And also I know if I save it, there’s a high chance that we’re going to win it, you get the momentum in that moment. Luckily, it worked out, and just happy that it went that way.

Peter Rakovsky of Phoenix Rising FC plays the ball against FC Tulsa in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Tulsa

“It feels amazing, it’s something you dream about, save a PK in the last minute, go to a PK shootout, you go win.”

The Rising FC were clearly energized by his save, and then Rakovsky made another outstanding diving save on the first Tulsa shooter in the shootout (Kalil El Medkhar), propelling them to win the PKs, 4-2. Calheira was presumably scheduled to be Tulsa’s fifth shooter but didn’t get the chance to step up to the dot again.

“Obviously, it gave me a little bit of a boost, I get my confidence higher, I just saved a PK against one of their best shooters,” Rakovsky said, noting how the PK save impacted the subsequent shootout. “And that probably also went through their heads, right? Like, ‘Oh shoot, he just saved probably our best PK shooter,’ so yeah, obviously a huge boost for our team and luckily, it worked out.”

Now, Rakovsky and his teammates, who fell 2-1 in the US Open Cup Round of 16 last year to the Seattle Sounders FC of MLS, turn their attention to hosting the Houston Dynamo FC in two weeks.

“We played last year against Seattle, it doesn’t matter who’s going to come,” Rakovsky said before he knew the specific opponent. “We are ready, and we want to win.”

2025 US Open Cup Round 3: 10-man Phoenix Rising save late PK, win shootout over FC Tulsa

April 17, 2025 by John Tranchina

Players from Phoenix Rising FC celebrate after scoring a goal against FC Tulsa in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Tulsa

There were plenty of moments for Phoenix Rising FC to crumble under the pressure and the difficult moments they found themselves in, but instead, the team faced its adversity head-on and ultimately emerged victorious.

While playing a man down since the 75th minute, then surrendering the tying goal in the 86th minute, Phoenix continued to battle and survived a shot off the goal post in overtime, and then a penalty shot against in the final minute of OT before prevailing 4-2 in the PK shootout over FC Tulsa in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament Wednesday night. The game was played at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Complex, on the campus of the University of Tulsa.

Rising FC advance to the Fourth Round (or the Round of 32) of the US Open Cup, where they are guaranteed to face an MLS team, in a game that will take place either May 6 or 7.

Coming off a disappointing loss on Saturday, 3-2 to Detroit City FC in which they led 2-0 into the 86th minute before surrendering three late goals to lose, Phoenix looked like they might falter late again once Tulsa’s Stefan Lukic tied the game in the 86th minute. But despite Tulsa generating the better scoring opportunities throughout the two 15-minute overtime periods, Phoenix goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky made two key saves, then stopped FC Tulsa’s Taylor Calheira’s penalty shot in the 121st minute to keep the game going.

In the shootout, Rakovsky made another diving save on the first Tulsa shot (by Kalil ElMedkhar) and Phoenix won the PKs 4-2 to claim the victory.

“Incredible group, incredible performance,” said Rising FC coach Pa-Modou Kah. “Given what we had to deal with Saturday night, you’re 2-0 up and you lose, but the character shown and what this group is capable of, we saw it today. It’s an unbelievable team spirit from everybody, from the players, from the staff that is here, from the staff that is home, and for our fans, this is for you. This is what we’re about.”

Obviously, the key moment was Rakovsky’s save on Calheira on the PK just before overtime ended. After a handball was called on a Phoenix defender in the box, Calheira stepped to the dot, about five minutes after his shot from about 10 yards out rattled off the left goalpost. He had scored on PKs in each of the two previous rounds of the U.S. Open Cup and just about everyone in the stadium figured he was about to again.

Calheira shot low to the left side, but Rakovsky made the diving save.

“It feels amazing, it’s something you dream about, save a PK in the last minute, go to a PK shootout, you win,” Rakovsky said afterwards. “Obviously, unlucky that you concede a goal five minutes before the end, but I still thought we gave a great fight. We played almost 50 minutes one man down, we kept fighting. We also had a little bit of luck, they shot it off the post, but also they were lucky to get the PK. Obviously, he hits the ball with his hand, but he’s also falling down, so I know they have to take it, but okay, you can’t change it. Obviously, huge congratulations to the team, great fight, and also, to be that cool in front of the PKs, amazing for the team. Luckily it worked out.”

Kah was proud of Rakovsky for his clutch save on Calheira.

“Listen, these are the moments where you have a goalkeeper that is capable of doing this and Patrick was capable,” Kah said. “It’s tough, because when you look at the game in whole, I think we controlled the game. I think we had occasions to score in second half but we didn’t take the chances, and then in the 85th minute, they score, and you might think, ‘Here we go again,’ but the resilience of this group is unbelievable. The resilience of this group is unbelievable. And the work, the fight, the fighting spirit, they give everything for each other. I’m so extremely proud of this team.”

For Tulsa, it was a heart-breaking ending to their U.S. Open Cup run, the second straight season they reached the Third Round. They defeated local amateur club Tulsa Athletic of The League for Clubs 1-0 on March 18 in the First Round, then beat USL League One side Forward Madison FC 3-1 on April 2 in the Second Round. Last year, they advanced to the Fourth Round (Round of 32) before falling to Sporting Kansas City of MLS, 4-0.

Tulsa actually defeated Phoenix 1-0 in their USL Championship season opener back on March 8. But after opening with a 5-1-0 record across all competitions, Tulsa has now lost two in a row, following its 2-1 home loss to Oakland Roots SC on Saturday.

“It’s disappointing, but I thought the guys gave everything,” FC Tulsa coach Luke Spencer said. “We were pushing forward, were unlucky on a few, so they gave everything and we’re out of the Cup, but that’s life. Proud of the guys for their effort.”

FC Tulsa’s usual home stadium, ONEOK Field, which they share with minor league baseball’s Double-A Tulsa Drillers, wasn’t available due to the Drillers already playing there.

Following a scoreless first half in which FC Tulsa had the wind, featuring gusts of up to 25-30 miles per hour, behind them, Phoenix benefited from it in the second and struck for the game’s first goal in the 51st minute.

Jearl Margaritha received a nice pass from the left wing from Hope Avayevu and drilled a 10-yard shot into the upper right corner to give the Rising FC the 1-0 lead.

Pape Mar Boye almost made it 2-0 for Phoenix on a point-blank shot just four minutes later, but Tulsa goalkeeper Johan Penaranda made a nice save.

FC Tulsa began to gain the territorial advantage after that, and Rakovsky made a nice diving save near the right post in the 58th minute on a 20-yard blast from Owen Damm.

Things didn’t look good for Phoenix once Abdoulaye Cissoko received his second yellow card within six minutes, getting ejected from game in the 75th minute, and Tulsa tied it 11 minutes later. Marcos Certato delivered a nice cross from the right flank into the middle of the box, where Lukic fired it home from 8 yards out.

“Proud of the group, resilient to fight back, to keep pushing,” Spencer said of his team’s ability to tie it up late. “The subs impacted the game in a positive way, it just didn’t work out tonight.”

Phoenix nearly won it just before regulation ended when Margaritha drilled a 30-yard shot from the left side that forced Penaranda to make a nice diving stop.

Just six minutes into the first OT period, Rakovsky made another diving save on Calheira’s header from 12 yards out. Tulsa’s Al Hassan Toure nearly ended it in the 14th minute of overtime, but his point-blank header sailed just over the crossbar.

After Rakovsky’s save on Calheira’s PK late in the second OT period, every Phoenix shooter scored in the shootout: Emil Cuello, J.P. Scearce, Casey Wells, and then Carl Sainte clinched it.

For Tulsa, Arthur Rogers and Giordano Colli both scored.

2025 US Open Cup Round 1: FC Tulsa avenges loss to Tulsa Athletic in third part of derby trilogy

March 20, 2025 by John Tranchina

Taylor Calheira of FC Tulsa celebrates after scoring a PK goal against Tulsa Athletic in the First Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Tulsa

The conditions were ripe for a “Cupset” for quite a while, but in the end, FC Tulsa refused to comply with the script.

Despite an outstanding performance from Tulsa Athletic goalkeeper Jakub Grzesiak, FC Tulsa finally broke through when Taylor Calheira converted a penalty kick in the 84^th minute, enabling the USL Championship club to pull out a 1-0 victory in hostile territory at Athletic Community Field at Hicks Park in Tulsa on Tuesday night, in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament.

Battling through intense wind, featuring gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, FC Tulsa survived the scare and advanced to the second round of the tournament against a still-to-be-determined opponent.

“We expected it to be very difficult, we talked about how it was going to be all about mentality, because of the conditions,” FC Tulsa coach Luke Spencer said afterwards. “The field is in no shape to play on, we knew that coming in, and with the wind as strong as it was, the game was never going to shape up to be a proper football game. From that standpoint, we’re very proud of the group. We showed some real character, some real fight and determination to find a way to win.”

With Athletic playing a man down from the 67^th minute, a hand ball was called in the box in the 83^rd minute, sending Calheira to the dot. He fired low, just inside the left goalpost, to beat Grzesiak for what became the game-winning goal.

“That’s what you practice for, and you just got to take the pressure and step up to take it and just be confident,” Calheira said of his mindset stepping up for the PK. “In the end, it won us the game and I’m happy about it, but it was a great team effort, and we couldn’t do it without the clean sheet and the defense today. It was great.”

It was a tough result for the home side to deal with, as they were hoping for a repeat of their big upset win over FC Tulsa in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup second round. With Grzesiak making at least four spectacular saves in the game, and nine total, Athletic managed to fend off the more skilled FC Tulsa for most of the night.

“I thought we had some really good moments in the game,” said Athletic coach John Woodhead. “With the game plan, we executed it to a T. We’ve been working really hard in training, and unfortunately, two big decisions didn’t go our way tonight. The sending off (of Vargas) was questionable, and obviously, the PK, he has handled it, however before that, there was an action that led him to handle it, and it didn’t get called.

“I’m super-proud of the boys. We worked our (butts) off, most of the fellas have been at work since 7 a.m. today, so to take them 90 minutes, to get a penalty one man down, it is what it is.”

As the game continued, FC Tulsa continued to press, refusing to get frustrated by the outstanding stops from Grzesiak. They stayed with the game plan and it paid off in the end.

“We stuck to the process, kept on believing, and the belief of this group is high,” Spencer said of his team, which has gotten off to a strong 2-0 start in the USL Championship season. “We thought down the stretch that we would get something. I thought Edwin (Laszo) coming on as a sub (in the 66^th minute) gave us something in the attack, and credit to their ‘keeper, Jakub, he came up big multiple times. He kept them in it, but we were happy to get the penalty at the end, for sure.”

There has been some animosity in the past between these two teams from the same city, the plucky, amateur Athletic having built up a solid, loyal following over the years, despite having led a somewhat nomadic existence at times, with about five different homes over the past 10 years. Meanwhile, the professional FC Tulsa team, which plays in downtown Tulsa, has had its ups and downs in the USL Championship, missing the playoffs in each of the past three seasons.

Those tensions seemed to spill over onto the pitch Tuesday night, with tempers flaring and multiple yellow cards given to both sides.

Spencer, whose bench received a yellow card of their own right before halftime, said his team was ready for the physicality of the contest.

Ultimately, that ended up really hurting the Athletic when star defender Gustavo Vargas was shown his second yellow of the night in the 67^th minute, turning into a red card ejection and leaving his team a man short the rest of the way.

Woodhead believes that was a turning point. His team had the wind behind them and some momentum at the time, especially after Luis Flores had just had their best scoring opportunity off a corner kick in the 60^th minute that forced FC Tulsa goalkeeper Johan Penaranda to make an excellent leaping save.

“I felt like we were having a spell and that was our time to get a goal, and obviously, the sending off ruined that for us,” Woodhead said. “It’s tough, the sending off obviously spoils the game and gives them the favor. Sometimes, the pro side coming to town, they get a few decisions. It is what it is.”

The Athletic, who won the NPSL National Championship in 2023 playing out of nearby Claremore, moved over to the UPSL last season (and back to Hicks Park) before joining the fledgling The League for Clubs for the upcoming 2025 season. To get into the U.S. Open Cup, they had to win three games during the amateur Midwest Region qualifying tournament last Fall. They defeated FC Bartlesville Buffaloes 4-0 on Oct. 26, then beat Woodland (Kansas) FC 8-0 on Nov. 16 before taking down Chicago House AC 0-0 (5-4 in PKs) in Elmhurst, Illinois, on Dec. 8 to make it in for the fourth straight year.

This was the third time these teams met in U.S. Open Cup play, with each having won once in the previous two contests. FC Tulsa won the first head-to-head matchup in the second round of 2022’s tournament with a 2-1 victory at their home stadium in downtown Tulsa, ONEOK Field, and the Athletic pulled off the stunning 1-0 upset in 2023’s U.S. Open Cup second round here at Hicks Field.

Last year, the Athletic lost 4-1 to USL1’s Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC in the first round, preventing another potential meeting in the third round, when FC Tulsa entered the tournament and beat the Hailstorm 2-1 at ONEOK Field. FC Tulsa went on to beat fellow USL Championship side Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 1-0 in the Round of 32 before falling 4-0 to Sporting Kansas City of MLS in the Round of 16, marking their deepest U.S. Open Cup run in their history.

Early on in this one, the Athletic survived several outstanding scoring chances over the first 15 minutes, as Grzesiak made outstanding diving saves in the seventh minute on Boubacar Diallo’s 25-yard blast from the left side and on Owen Damm’s 20-yard shot in the 12^th minute.

While FC Tulsa still enjoyed the territorial advantage over the next 15 minutes or so, generating several corner kicks and shots that missed the target, the Athletic started pushing back. Flores drilled a 30-yard shot that forced Penaranda to make a good save in the 35^th minute.

Tension and tempers started to bubble over in the final minutes of the first half as there were multiple confrontations between players, and three yellow cards handed out in a two-minute span in stoppage time.

Multiple cards were handed out in the second half as well.

Five minutes after Vargas was ejected, Calheira nearly set up a goal, but his pass was re-directed in front by Stefan Stojanovic, resulting in another excellent stop by Grzesiak.

The Athletic had another great chance to take the lead in the 77^th minute, when Flores boomed a 35-yard free kick that appeared headed for the upper right corner, but Penaranda made an outstanding diving stop to keep the score level.

Even though the home side Athletic had far more supporters in the crowd, FC Tulsa also had a vocal contingent of fans on hand. It was really a nice showing for the Tulsa soccer community overall.

“There was great fans, great atmosphere tonight,” Calheira acknowledged. “There’s no excuses of course, but the wind, the field, but in the end, you fight. It’s about passion and who wanted it more. We wanted it and we weren’t going to lose today.”