MILWAUKEE – New York City FC won the 2021 Major League Soccer Cup on Saturday, claiming a 4-2 penalty-kick shootout victory in the MLS Championship following a 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers.
 
That made an MLS champion out of former Milwaukee men's soccer player Vuk Latinovich, who spent the 2021 season on the active roster and made his professional debut in a 2-0 victory over Philadelphia Union in May.
 
NYCFC led the title match 1-0 until a late stoppage-time goal, but regrouped to claim its first-ever MLS championship in the PK shootout.
 
Latinovich was selected by New York City FC in the 2021 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, picking the senior midfielder in the third round of the draft with the 71st overall pick.

Latinovich was a two-time All-Horizon League honoree who earned First-Team All-League and Second Team United Soccer Coaches All-North Region accolades as a junior in 2019, missing what would have been his senior campaign when athletic events were cancelled due to COVID-19 in the fall of 2020. He appeared in 57 career games, making 56 starts, and ended his career with 33 points (11G/11A) and 162 total shot attempts.
 
He became the fifth Milwaukee men's soccer player to be drafted by an MLS team and the first since Steve Bode was selected by the Chicago Fire in the fourth round of the 2008 Major League Soccer Draft. Antou Jallow (fourth round in 2005), Tighe Dombrowski (fifth round of 2004 draft) and Chad Dombrowski (fifth round in 2003) round out the distinguished list.