Match Preview | Rochester NY FC vs Cleveland SC

Cleveland SC travels to Rochester NY FC in first road test of the 2026 NPSL Season

Rochester, NY – Cleveland SC hits the road for the first time in the 2026 NPSL season on Wednesday night, traveling to New York for a 7:15 p.m. matchup against Rochester NY FC.

Cleveland enters the contest riding high after a dominant 3-0 victory over the Buffalo Stallions in the season opener, a performance that showcased both attacking firepower and defensive discipline. 

The tone was set almost immediately, as Abdou Faye opened the scoring in the first minute of the match following a well-worked sequence initiated right from kickoff. From there, Cleveland controlled much of the play, combining sharp midfield movement with a composed defensive presence

The attack continued to build momentum in the second half, with Hakim Musabbah doubling the lead in the 50th minute after a strong individual run, before Noah Sandahl capped off the scoring with a well-timed finish in the 65th minute. Behind the attack, goalkeeper Alex Normandeau and a disciplined backline secured a clean sheet, completing a well-rounded performance to open the campaign.

Now, Cleveland turns its attention to a structured Rochester side that lines up with a balanced, organized setup. Rochester NY FC Academy is in just its second season in the NPSL but made an immediate statement in 2025. The club went 7-0-3 in its inaugural campaign, finishing third in the Great Lakes Conference and earning a playoff berth in its first season.

The 2026 campaign has started more slowly, however, with Rochester sitting at 0-0-2 following a 2-0 home loss to Niagara 1812 and a 2-1 road defeat against Ambassadors FC Ohio. Despite those early results, the team’s organization and returning core from last year make it a dangerous opponent, particularly at home.

Cleveland’s shape has shown early cohesion as well despite many new faces on the roster. Alex Normandeau anchors the team in goal behind a defensive unit featuring Rodrigo Bandeira, Alec Nagucki, and Alan Jerkovic. The midfield has been key to Cleveland’s early success, with Brent Nanchoff helping control possession, while Luca Piazza and Noah Sandahl have been central to the team’s attacking build-up and final-third execution.

The depth of the squad was also on display in the opener, with players such as Faye, Musabbah, and Ren Nishida making key contributions in the attack. That balance gives Cleveland multiple ways to threaten opposing defenses

Wednesday night also presents an opportunity for Cleveland SC to earn some revenge. The only previous meeting between the two sides ended in a 2-1 victory for Rochester at the Rochester Soccer Complex. With that result still in mind, Cleveland will be motivated to flip the script while continuing its strong start to the season.

With confidence building, chemistry developing, and early momentum firmly on its side, Cleveland SC will look to carry its opening-night performance into a challenging road environment and secure a second consecutive victory to begin the 2026 campaign.

Match Information - Rochester NY FC vs Cleveland SC

📍 RNY FC Soccer Complex - Field 1 - 1520 John Street, West Henrietta, NY 14586

🗓️ Wednesday, May 20, 2026

⏰ Kickoff at 7:15 PM EDT

🎟️ Tickets are available at the gate.

Follow the Match Live

We’d love to see you in Rochester, but don’t worry if you can’t be there, the match will be streamed live on Veo Go, so you can catch every moment from home. For live updates, throughout the match, be sure to follow Cleveland SC on X and Instagram.

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