Match Report | Cleveland SC vs Rochester NY FC

Cleveland falls in its second straight game to Rochester NY FC

BEREA, OHIO – Following a disappointing 2-0 loss at home to Flower City Union, Cleveland took its second straight loss to a team from Rochester, New York, as Rochester NY FC Academy put five goals past the Cleveland SC defense in a nine-goal thriller that saw the hosts fall 5-4.

Cleveland started the match on the attack, easily getting into the final third of Rochester’s defense, but Rochester did a good job of bending and not breaking, as they didn’t allow many shots. 

That was the case until the 13th minute when Cleveland broke through for the first goal of the game from midfielder Oliver Spinks. It was a great first goal of the season for Spinks that was made possible by some nice setup play from the Cleveland attackers. 

The club didn’t have much time to enjoy that early lead as Rochester came right back down the field and scored a bullet of a goal that was sent in by Noah Baumslag. 

The goal came just two minutes later after Baumslag was able to find enough space in a sea of defenders to fire the ball into the top of the net in the 15th minute. 

Rochester kept its momentum going as it tallied another goal, coming off the foot of Baumslag in the 31st minute. 

The Rochester #10 received a great pass about seven yards away from the net, and he drove a low shot into the opposite corner to give his squad the lead. 

Similar to Cleveland’s first goal, Rochester wasn’t able to rest with the lead for long as Cleveland took control of possession and got back on the attack. 

Photo Credit: GViper Photography

They eventually won a corner, and after the initial pass from the corner was deflected out in the direction of Brent Nanchoff, who unleashed a screamer of a shot into the top left corner of the net for an electric equaliser in the 37th minute

With the first 37 minutes of the half seeing four total goals scored at a breakneck pace, Cleveland looked to maintain possession and either get one more goal before the half or hold on to the 2-2 tie, but another goal was in store for this wild game, and it went against Cleveland. 

That goal came two minutes later with Rochester’s Glodie Mata getting the ball with tons of open space 20 yards out from the goal, and he took advantage of the space, ripping a shot that curled into the right side of the netting. 

It was a brutal goal for a Cleveland side that had just gained some momentum with the incredible goal from Nanchoff. 

It only got worse for Cleveland before the half, as Rochester did not let its foot off the gas, with Mata taking advantage of Cleveland giving the ball away, allowing him to get a great run at the goal, and he finished his chance, scoring his second of the game in the 42nd minute.

Rochester took a 4-2 lead into halftime after a stunning first half that saw a defensively stout Cleveland side get thrashed due to some incredible shots but also its own sloppy play and self-inflicted wounds. 

Cleveland came out of the break looking better, earning a corner while keeper Colin Monroe made a couple of nice saves within the opening minutes of the second half. 

All of the positive vibes coming out of the half were quickly extinguished by another Rochester goal in the 54th minute, as Baumslag earned a hat trick with his third goal of the game by slotting a goal under the legs of Monroe down the right side of the pitch.

Just like that, Rochester took a commanding 5-2 lead and opted to essentially park the bus for the second half. Cleveland made some runs as they looked to get a goal back, but nothing ever came of them. 

In the 89th minute, however, Cleveland did get a goal back with Nanchoff’s second goal of the game.

Nanchoff got the ball in a great spot in front of the goal, but he mishandled the pass and wound up with his back facing the net. Nanchoff made a bold and creative decision to shoot the ball off his back heel and off the post to get a goal back. 

Cleveland had little time to take that momentum and make something of it, and they did as defender Rodrigo Bandeira whipped in a great goal to make it a one-score game. 

That late push was ultimately too little too late, as the official blew the full-time whistle right after the ball was put in play after the goal, ending the game 5-4 with Cleveland’s second straight loss. 

The club has already clinched a playoff spot, but two straight losses do not bode well for a side going into a match against the No. 1 team in the Great Lakes Conference, the Erie Commodores. 

The boys in orange and black will certainly look to take that late performance with them into Saturday as they aim to finish the regular season on a high note.

Photo Credit: GViper Photography

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