Match Preview | Ambassadors FC Ohio vs Cleveland SC
- Cleveland SC
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Cleveland SC Eyes Bounce-Back Win Against In-State Rivals Ambassadors FC
CANTON, OH — After a tough loss 10 days ago against Rochester NY FC, Cleveland SC will make the short commute down to Canton, OH, to battle in-state rivals, Ambassadors FC, on Wednesday, May 28th. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM as valuable points are at stake for Cleveland SC.
Entering Match Day 3, Cleveland SC sits 5th in the Great Lakes Conference standings, right behind Ambassadors FC. Both teams are coming off losses and have a record of 1-0-1.
In their previous match, a first-half brace from Rochester NY FC’s Alhadji Sidibe put Cleveland SC in an early 2-0 deficit. However, Cleveland gained momentum before the halftime whistle thanks to a goal from defender Alexandru Rumleanschi, notching his first goal of the season.
The second half was a fierce contest with both sides dueling for possession and momentum. Cleveland’s defense limited Rochester’s attack while the team created chances on the offensive end. Unfortunately, Rochester’s defense stood tall, denying Cleveland an equalizer off of opportunities late.
Even though Cleveland didn’t secure points in the contest against Rochester, the resilience and fight the squad showed after going down 2-0 early are positives that Cleveland can build upon heading into Wednesday’s match.
Looking at Ambassadors FC Ohio
For the third straight match, Cleveland SC will play a NPSL newcomer. On February 6th, 2025, the NPSL announced that Ambassadors FC Ohio would join the league and play in the Great Lakes Conference. Director of Football Operations, Bob Dean, has a renowned legacy in Northeast Ohio. After winning the 2000 OHSAA Division I Girls State Championship with Hudson High School, Dean would go on to spend 11 years at Hiram College. There, he rebuilt the women’s soccer program, becoming the winningest coach in program history. Being with Ambassadors FC since 2017, his team won the Northern Ohio Soccer League Trophy in 2021.
Led by Head Coach Ryan Dean, Ambassadors FC won their NPSL opener, 4-0 against Syracuse FC, but lost to Flower City Union, 2-1, last Saturday. An early goal from Diego Pinto put Ambassadors FC ahead of the conference leaders, but couldn’t provide any more support as Flower City Union would tack on two goals throughout the match to claim three points.
Ambassadors FC are led by forward Amir Sparatt, who leads the Great Lakes Conference in goals, with three this season.
What’s at Stake
Wednesday’s match against Ambassadors FC Ohio will kickstart a stretch of four games in 10 days for Cleveland SC. It’s important for Cleveland to get off to a good start with the stretch of games and focus on one match at a time. A win for Cleveland SC will put them in the top three in the Great Lakes Conference, potentially, back into first place, depending on the Rochester NY FC - Syracuse FC result.
With these teams being separated by only 58 miles and playing each other for the first time in the NPSL, the intensity will be high as both teams will look to bounce back from previous losses and assert themselves as a top team in the conference.
Match Information
Location: Dr. David & Winnie King Field - 2600 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton, Ohio 44709
Date & Time: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM EDT
Ticket Information: General Admission tickets are $12 and can be purchased online.
Follow the Match Live
Ambassadors FC Ohio will be livestreaming the match here. If you can't join us in Canton, be sure to follow Cleveland SC on X and Instagram for live match updates.
Elsewhere in the Great Lakes Conference:
Rochester NY FC (1-0-0) v Syracuse FC (0-1-2), Wednesday, May 28, 7:45 PM EDT at RNY FC Soccer Complex-Field 1.
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