Rematch with Erie
After a hard-fought 3-2 defeat to the league leaders, Steel City FC, last week, Cleveland SC showed great determination, pushing until the final whistle in search of an equalizer. Now, they return home for a crucial match that could secure them the final playoff spot in the NPSL Great Lakes Conference. Standing in their way is Erie Commodores FC, who also have a chance to remain in contention for a playoff spot with a win or draw tonight.
The match is scheduled to kick off this evening, Friday, June 30th, at 7:00 pm EST, at George Finnie Stadium on the campus of Baldwin Wallace University.
Cleveland SC holds a four-point advantage over their opponents, but Erie has a match in hand. Regardless of tonight's result, Cleveland will face another tough challenge against Steel City FC, while Erie will host FC Columbus on Sunday and welcome Michigan Rangers FC next weekend. To simplify things, a victory for Cleveland tonight guarantees their place in the playoffs, while a draw or loss would extend the suspense.
In their previous encounter, Erie claimed a narrow 1-0 victory with an early goal in the third minute of play at Mercyhurst University. The match saw a total of six yellow cards and two red cards on that eventful Sunday afternoon. Since then, Cleveland has been in excellent form, earning nine out of twelve possible points, while Erie has played just two matches, collecting three points out of six.
No matter how you analyze the standings, the schedule, or the statistics, matches between Cleveland and Erie always deliver intense battles until the final whistle, and tonight's clash promises to be no different.
Ticket details
If you’re a Cleveland fan, your support can make a difference in securing a playoff spot. Tickets for tonight are priced at $15, and children aged 11 and under can enjoy free entry, both online and at the gate. To secure tickets, please visit the following link: TICKETS HERE
Food Truck
We are thrilled to announce the return of Bee'z Bitez Food Truck to tonight's match, offering a delightful selection of classic handhelds, gourmet burgers, seafood delights, and more. Chef Brian will serve up delicious options from casual to fancy, including mouthwatering dishes such as salmon 'n' shrimp alfredo, BBQ smoked chicken with loaded potatoes, and a piled-high crab boil. Make sure to check them out just outside the gates of George Finnie Stadium for an exceptional food experience.
Follow the match live
For those unable to attend in person, don't worry! You can still catch all the action live on the Cleveland SC YouTube Channel, with Gianluca DiGiacomo providing live commentary from George Finnie Stadium. Kick-off is set for 7:00 pm, so make sure to access the live stream link here to cheer on Cleveland SC, from the comfort of your home.
Our opponent
Erie Commodores FC, led by Rich Wall, has recorded four wins and five losses this season, with three matches remaining. Since their previous meeting with Cleveland, Erie suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat in a midweek match against Akron City FC but bounced back with a 5-3 away victory over Carpathia FC. While Erie has seen contributions from various players finding the back of the net, Jacob Hancock has been particularly impressive, scoring three goals in the last three matches to lead the club. With a total of thirty-one yellow cards in nine matches, Erie's determination is evident, and they will undoubtedly fight until the final whistle.
Club Notes
Cleveland SC is gearing up for yet another intense battle against Erie tonight, continuing their rivalry that has spanned six years. Despite holding an impressive overall record of 7-1-3 against Erie, it's important to note that these matches have been far from easy. In recent matches, Cleveland has displayed increased attacking prowess compared to the first half of the season, finding the back of the net thirteen times in their last four outings, compared to just five goals in their first six matches. Head Coach Vlad Muresan will undoubtedly expect his attacking front to maintain their current form in this crucial evening encounter.
Make sure to grab your tickets and join us at George Finnie Stadium to show your support for the squad.
Squad
GOALKEEPERS: Pedro Alves, Ryan Poling
DEFENDERS: Boban Cancar, Chris Cvecko, Quinn Groves, Benjamin Hryszko, Adam Kalvitz
MIDFIELDERS: Chris Brennan, Keegan Dawson, Marcus Vinicius Pereira, Jannis Schmidt, Admir Suljevic
FORWARDS: Tom Beck, Jack Foht, Carter Hancock, Bojan Kolevski, Julian Pellegrini, Logan Penton
Single Match Tickets can be purchased at clevelandsc.com/tickets
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