Match Preview | Niagara 1812 vs Cleveland SC
- Cleveland SC
- 54 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Everything to know for Cleveland SC’s trip to take on Niagara 1812
NIAGARA, NEW YORK - Reset, regroup, and refocus. Those are the main sentiments of this week for Cleveland SC following its first loss of the season to the No. 1 team in the NPSL in Erie Commodores FC.
That refocusing will be needed as the team had a quick turnaround from that game, as the squad will travel to the United States and Canada border to play against Niagara 1812 on Saturday.
Cleveland’s last match against Erie was a tough matchup with difficult circumstances, as the game was delayed for over three hours due to rain and thunder in the area, and when the game resumed, it was nearing 11 p.m.
Both clubs came out of the long delay looking sluggish and slow, and Cleveland was never able to find a goal for the rest of the game. The team had chances, especially in the dying minutes of the game, but none of their attempts were able to find the nylon of the net, and it resulted in a 2-0 loss.
As for the defense, the goals that Erie scored were very impressive, especially the first goal of the game as Erie’s Rikito Takeuchi fired an incredible strike from 15 yards out into the top bins, a goal that you can’t really do anything about.
The second goal was a well-executed set piece off a corner, and with it coming later in the game, it essentially sealed Cleveland’s fate.
That first loss for Cleveland certainly stings, especially when considering the chance that it had to knock off the nation’s top team at home, but the group must move forward to the next challenge at hand in Niagara.
Cleveland recently completed a tough part of the schedule, playing solid teams in Ambassadors FC Ohio, Flower City Union and Erie, all in a row, and Cleveland took two of those games for wins.
The team will now get a less intimidating opponent in a team that they have already beaten in Niagara.
Niagara played Cleveland at George Finnie Stadium in Berea, Ohio, less than two weeks ago. After the road team put the first goal on the board, Cleveland stormed back with three unanswered goals to secure the win at home.
Since that game, Niagara has tied twice, once against Flower City and once against Rochester NY FC. Even with those draws, their record of 1-2-4 is not stellar, and their five points in the league put them tied for second-to-last in the Great Lakes Conference.
Still, Cleveland cannot take this game lightly and let its first loss of the season snowball into a losing streak. The team has struggled more on the road, as its only draw of the season was on the road against Rochester, and its last road game required a last-minute goal from Nico Romero to get all three points.
Match Information - Niagara 1812 vs Cleveland SC
📍 Niagara Field - 17 University Dr, Niagara University, NY 14109
🗓️ Saturday June 13, 2026
⏰ Kickoff at 7:30 PM EDT
🎟️ Tickets are available online and at the gate.
June Match Passes are available now, giving fans access to all four June home matches for one price, with family-friendly options available.
Follow the Match Live
Can’t make it to the match? Watch live on Niagara's SC's Hudl channel. Fans can also follow live updates on Cleveland SC’s X and Instagram. [WATCH LIVE]
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