Match Report | Cleveland SC vs Ambassadors FC Ohio
- Cleveland SC
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
Cleveland SC Drops Ohio Derby to Ambassadors FC Ohio, 4–0
BEREA, OH — It was a tough night at George Finnie Stadium on Wednesday as Cleveland SC fell 4–0 to in-state rivals Ambassadors FC Ohio in a midweek Ohio Derby matchup. Despite a competitive start and some promising second-half chances, Cleveland couldn’t find the back of the net, while Ambassadors rode a strong performance from the Great Lakes Conference’s top goal scorer to take all three points.
Ambassadors opened the scoring in the 20th minute through Amir Spratt, whose movement caught the Cleveland defense flat-footed and fired a shot past keeper Zolton Nagy. The forward made a sharp run behind the back line and finished calmly from short range to make it 1–0. It was the kind of early blow that forced Cleveland to chase the game, and while they responded with spells of controlled possession, they couldn’t unlock the Ambassadors’ defense in the first half.
Cleveland SC came out of the locker room with renewed energy, creating two dangerous chances early in the second half. Uleto Fuentes and Kyle Healy each with promising shots on target, but the home side couldn't convert either opportunity to level the match.
In the 53rd minute, Spratt struck again—this time showcasing his quality with a clever turn and a low, composed finish. It marked his sixth goal in five matches, solidifying his place atop the conference scoring charts and doubling the visitors’ lead.
As Cleveland committed more players forward in search of a lifeline, gaps opened up at the back. Ambassadors capitalized, first in the 77th minute when Alex Depperschmidt added a third, and again in the 87th, when Steven Utter got behind the Cleveland back line and calmly chipped over Ryan Poling to make it 4–0 and put the match out of reach.
Despite the scoreline, Zoltan Nagy was active in goal throughout the match, making several big saves to prevent the deficit from growing earlier, before being subbed off in the 83rd minute for Poling. His efforts kept Cleveland within striking distance until the final 15 minutes.
The midweek beach party theme brought out a solid Wednesday night crowd, with fans showing up in beach gear and waving towels as they backed the team from the stands. The turnout added a bright note to an otherwise challenging evening on the field.
The loss drops Cleveland SC to 2-1-2 on the season and remains in fourth place in the Great Lakes Conference standings. Ambassadors moved one place higher in the table, currently sitting at 2nd with a 3-1-1 record through Match day 5. With one match left in their current three-game homestand, Cleveland will look to bounce back quickly in a rematch of the season opener against the Buffalo Stallions this Saturday, June 7th, at 7 PM. Buffalo enters the match after winning the first game as a member of the NPSL and currently sits in 7th place in the Conference. This will be an opportunity for the team to regroup, defend home turf, and conclude the stretch on a high note.
Tickets for Saturday's matchup against the Buffalo Stallions are available [HERE]
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