Match Report | Cleveland SC vs Erie Commodores FC
- Cleveland SC
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Cleveland SC falls to No. 1 Erie Commodores FC for its first loss of the season
BEREA, OHIO- The hype and build-up was reak in Northeast Ohio. Those who were in attendance at George Finnie Stadium in Berea, Ohio, were expecting a great game between the NPSL’s No. 1 team in Erie Commodores FC and the No. 4 team in the hosts, Cleveland SC, but the two teams did not get to play a match to its fullest capacity.
Weather delays put the game on hold for three hours on Wednesday, and when play resumed Erie took control, coming out on top with a 2-0 win over Cleveland.
The squads looked to hand each other its first loss of the year, but a lengthy rain delay postponed the action for a few hours on Wednesday night.
Both squads have been on fire in the Great Lakes Conference, as neither side had lost a match entering the game.
Erie had an outstanding goal differential of 22 going into Wednesday night, whereas Cleveland boasted a differential of 10.
All signs pointed to the match being a highly competitive and tightly contested contest, and it was as both squads struggled to get things going at the start.
Erie made some runs with their lightning-quick attackers as it was clear early that their quick pace and passes would cause some serious problems for Cleveland.
They had a couple of big chances early, but the efforts sailed over the bar and ultimately did no harm. It appeared as if Erie was starting to settle into the game, but just as the Commodores got comfortable multiple lightning flashes became visible in the Ohio night and the game was delayed in the 23rd minute.
The players left the pitch at around 7:45 p.m. and didn’t return for another three hours as fits of rain and relentless lightning kept the action off the pitch.
When the play did resume, Erie’s winger Masaki Tsuji made life hard for Cleveland’s defense as he kept putting pressure on the back line, putting up quick shots with his fast pace.
It was clear both teams were a little sluggish after the break as there wasn’t a ton of opportunities, but Erie eventually made a big chance as Rikito Takeuchi bursted out on a dangerous counter attack in the 42nd minute and he dribbled all the way to the 10-yard line and unleashed a belter of a goal that fired into the top of the net, giving Erie the first goal of the game.
After a quick halftime due to the rain the play again resumed and Erie stayed on the attack, playing front footed soccer that applied a ton of pressure to the Cleveland defense.
In the 63rd minute, the Erie attack earned a corner kick and they capitalized, as the ball bounced around the box after a couple of headers before hitting the crossbar and falling across the line and into the net for the second Commodores goal, scored by Julian Tovar Jaime.
That second goal was the most amount of goals that Cleveland has conceded all season, as they never allowed more than one goal in a game before the match with Erie.
Cleveland had some chances, including a missed shot from Davide Carmignani that came off a long throw in the 55th minute.
The chances kept coming for Cleveland in the waning minutes, but none of the chances were able to find the back of the net, as the full time whistle rang out giving Cleveland its first loss of the season, falling 2-0 to Erie.
Next Match
Cleveland SC travels to Niagara University, New York this Saturday, June 13, to face Niagara 1812. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM EST.
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