Match Report | Cleveland SC vs Niagara 1812
- Cleveland SC
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Cleveland SC storms back from down 1-0, beating Niagara 1812 to stay unbeaten
BEREA, Ohio — After a successful two-game road trip in New York, Cleveland SC returned home to George Finnie Stadium to win its third game of the season, defeating Niagara 1812 by a final score of 3-1.
After going down 1-0 in the first half, the Cleveland attack came alive, scoring three unanswered goals with a ruthless offensive push.
Niagara was actually the squad that started the game in form, putting pressure on the Cleveland SC defense, resulting in some free kicks that were cleared before they could cause trouble.
Cleveland would get their attack going as well, advancing the ball down the left side of the pitch and making multiple crosses that were unable to find the foot of a player in shooting position.
They did get a great opportunity from one of the crosses, but a phenomenal block from a Niagara defender denied the opening goal for Cleveland.
Possession remained mostly with Cleveland, as they were able to control the ball and play the game at their pace.
In the 24th minute, that pace flipped, as Niagara won the ball and made a great run down the right side of the pitch. The Niagara winger delivered a shot on goal that was saved by the Cleveland keeper Alex Normandeau, but Dominic Massaro was right there for the rebound and an easy tap-in goal.
The goal opened the game’s scoring and put Cleveland in a familiar position, going down 1-0 in the first half, just as they had the previous week against the Buffalo Stallions.
Following a Cleveland attack that was ruled offside, Niagara came right back down the pitch and had a great opportunity to score, but the shot was fired just over the crossbar, leaving Cleveland lucky not to be down 2-0.
With the ball again down near the Cleveland goal, forward Hakim Musabbah was able to leak out and received a pass that led him down the left side of the pitch, the same side that Cleveland was attacking all night.
In a bit of deja vu, Musabbah was able to beat his man and fired the ball under the legs of Niagara’s dicing keeper. It was nearly the exact same goal he scored in the first match of the season against the Buffalo Stallions, yet this goal was a huge equalizer coming in the 38th minute.
That goal was big for Cleveland as they entered the halftime break tied at 1-1 instead of being down a goal.
Halftime sub for Cleveland, Abdou Faye, immediately made his presence known as he made a great run, receiving a great pass as he streaked toward the goal and fired a shot that was just wide of the net.
After another great save from Normandeau, Cleveland again pressed the left side and had a huge chance that caught all of the post, caroming off for a corner that was cleared by Niagara.
Both sides traded the ball, as it felt that no one truly had control of the game, with each team making small runs that ultimately ended with nothing of note. Cleveland would finally get another big chance, with midfielder Oliver Spinks making a beautiful run into the final third before delivering a great cross across the box that was unable to find any Cleveland attackers.
That missed chance wouldn’t haunt them for long, however, as Faye would fire a long shot that ricocheted off the hand of the Niagara keeper before falling at the feet of Davide Carmignani for a tap-in goal, giving Cleveland a 2-1 lead in the 69th minute.
Later in the 75th minute, Faye would get free again, making a great move to put him on goal before Niagara’s Harry Kirk denied him a goalscoring opportunity, resulting in a red card that took Kirk off the pitch and put Niagara down a man.
Cleveland would get a third goal, this one coming from captain Alec Nagucki as he had a wide open shot that smashed in the back of the net with the assist from Bernardo Deberaldini.
The goal made it three unanswered for Cleveland, a resounding response to going down 1-0 for the second week in a row.
By the end of the game, the Niagara defenders looked gassed, and after a couple more runs and a few minutes of stoppage time, Cleveland walked off the pitch with its second straight home win, remaining undefeated on the season
Next Match
Cleveland SC is back home this Wednesday, June 3, to take on Ambassadors FC at George Finnie Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 PM.
Get your tickets and come support the squad as they look to keep the momentum going.
Stay Connected
Comments