Match Preview | Cleveland SC vs Niagara 1812
- Cleveland SC
- Jun 27
- 4 min read
Final Home Game of the Season Set for Saturday at George Finnie Stadium
BEREA, OH - Cleveland SC returns to action for Matchday 9 of the 2025 NPSL season on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Niagara 1812 FC to George Finnie Stadium for the final home fixture of the regular season. Kickoff is set for 3:00 PM as Cleveland looks to close out its home slate with a crucial victory in the race for the Great Lakes Conference playoffs.
Coming off a dramatic 3-2 win over Syracuse FC, Cleveland SC has built a reputation this season as a never-say-die squad. For the third consecutive match, the club secured points with a late goal, this time thanks to a stoppage-time winner by Tamas Nagy that capped a comeback from two goals down. It was a match filled with energy, tension, and ultimately, elation for the home fans on Youth Night.
Post-match, Nagy credited the fans and the club's resolve, saying, "I think it’s just believing in ourselves, and we come out here and we have a good amount of people coming out here to support us, so we just want to give everything to them. So, again, we’re just fighters and we keep giving everything until the end."
Matchday 8 Recap & Highlights: Relive the excitement from last week’s incredible 3-2 comeback over Syracuse FC [HERE]
Cleveland enters the weekend in 5th place in the Great Lakes Conference standings with a 4-2-2 record, just behind Ambassadors FC Ohio on points per game for the coveted fourth and final playoff spot. With just two games remaining, every match is in must-win territory. Saturday is Cleveland's last home game of the season, and securing all three points against Niagara is imperative.
Their opponents, Niagara 1812, arrive in Berea sitting 7th in the table with a 1-1-7 record. Officially eliminated from playoff contention, Niagara will be playing for pride and looking to end their season on a high note. They come into the contest off a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to the Buffalo Stallions, with the deciding goal conceded in the first minute of stoppage time. Cleveland will need to be wary of a squad that has nothing to lose and everything to prove.
One area Cleveland will look to exploit is Niagara's defense, which has conceded 24 goals this season—the most in the conference. The question remains: can red-hot striker Nicolas Vagujhelyi get back on the scoresheet after being held in check last weekend? With five goals in his last four matches, he remains a constant threat in the final third.
Cleveland's offensive arsenal has been firing on all cylinders in recent weeks. Cian Tunney, Tapiwa Mushonga, Malvin Gblah, and Tamas Nagy have been relentless in the attack, helping the team score three goals in each of the last three games. With so many creative playmakers working in tandem, fans can expect another high-octane performance against a vulnerable Niagara defense.
On the defensive side, Cleveland's back line will be eager to make a statement. Uleto Fuentes, Alexandru Rumleanschi, Kris McDonald, and goalkeepers Ryan Poling and Zoltan Nagy have all been tested throughout the season. After conceding in each of the last seven matches, they are hungry to earn the team’s first clean sheet since the opening game of the campaign.
In the midfield, Captain Kyle Healy will again play a pivotal role in dictating tempo and maintaining possession. Healy’s leadership and steady presence are crucial in closing out the homestand strong and building momentum ahead of next weekend's massive road clash against third-place Erie Commodores FC.
While the late-game heroics have become a signature of Cleveland SC's 2025 campaign, Head Coach Joe Jovanovski and his squad will be hoping to control the match from the outset and avoid the need for another last-minute rescue. Expect a focused and determined Cleveland side to take the pitch Saturday, looking to impose their will for all 90 minutes.
Fan Promotion: Kids Admission Free
After the incredible success and atmosphere of Youth Night last weekend, Cleveland SC is thrilled to bring the energy back for one more round. For the final home game of the regular season, all kids (17 & under) will receive FREE admission. Bring the whole family and cheer on Cleveland SC in a match with serious playoff implications.
Match Information - Cleveland SC vs Niagara 1812
📍 George Finnie Stadium - 141 E Bagley Rd, Berea, OH 44017
🗓️ Saturday, June 28, 2025
⏰ Kickoff at 3:00 PM EDT
🎟️ Tickets are available online and at the gate for $15. All kids 17 & under are FREE!
Follow the Match Live
We’d love to see you at George Finnie Stadium with the whole family, but don’t worry if you can’t be there, the match will be streamed live on Cleveland SC’s YouTube Channel, so you can catch every moment from home. For live updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more, be sure to follow Cleveland SC on X and Instagram for real-time updates throughout the match.
This Saturday marks your last chance to support Cleveland SC at home during the regular season. With the playoff race tighter than ever and the squad feeding off the crowd’s energy, your support can make all the difference. Be there, be loud, and let’s push Cleveland into the postseason!
Elsewhere in the Great Lakes Conference:
Ambassadors FC Ohio (4-1-2) vs Rochester NY FC Academy (6-0-2), Saturday, June 28, 4:30 PM EDT at Malone University
Buffalo Stallions (2-0-5) vs Erie Commodores FC (5-0-2), Saturday, June 28, 7 PM EDT, at North Tonawanda High School
Syracuse FC (0-1-6) vs Flower City Union (5-1-1), Sunday, June 29, 5 PM EDT at Camden High School-Stadium
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