Steel City FC show resiliency to strike twice after weather delay to overcome FC Buffalo, 2-1, for first-ever USL League Two win

Photo courtesy Randy Warner / Steel City FC

Steel City FC weathered a couple of storms, including a 1-0 deficit, then match delays due to rain and lightning, then found some late magic when play resumed to score twice in the final five minutes to defeat FC Buffalo, 2-1, at Founders Field on Wednesday night.

“Tonight’s game was important in so many ways – posing some major challenges to our group early in league play,” Dan Brower, Steel City FC Head Coach said.

“We’ve shown resiliency and a fighting spirit over these first 2 matches and our group of guys are quickly gelling. Buffalo were big and strong and well organized.”

ABSOLUTE SCENES 😱

From 1-0 down, @SteelCityFC scores twice in the last five minutes to defeat FC Buffalo! pic.twitter.com/3S2iw0xuED

— USL League Two (@USLLeagueTwo) May 22, 2025

Steel City struggle early in the match go generate chances with limited space, as FC Buffalo played with three center backs.

“It was difficult to play through central channels early on and space was limited in front of the goal,” Brower pointed out.

Buffalo’s goal came in the first half, even as Steel City were holding possession for large stretches on the wet grass pitch.

With the match still holding at 1-0 in the 75th minute and the lights on at Founders, the officials halted the match due to dangerous lightning strikes in the area.  It was the second delay of the match, with the first causing the match to not start until 7:15 p.m. (original start time was 7 p.m.)

During the break time, even with the added rest, Brower sensed that the added time on the ball would eventually wear down the visitors.

“We knew some patterns were working and if we could attack a few areas of the pitch and then have better box organization for our deliveries,” Brower explained.

Sure enough, after the break and play resumed, it went back-and-forth, but a foul on the edge of the box created from pass and movement from Nicky Graeca (John Carroll/Dubios) and Anders Bodroy in the midfield created the set piece and a Buffalo red card.

“It was a great combination to put us in,” Brower admitted as the table was set for a thrilling comeback sequence.

With a free kick chance from 19 yards, it was Bodroy, the former Kiski Area High School and USL Academy product with the Riverhounds who has transferred to Pitt, lined up to take the set piece.

The shot went through the left edge of the wall, took a quick and sudden deflection — and redirected to right and into the open area of goal  — in the opposite direction of where Buffalo’s keeper Jack Root moved to stop the initial shot.

Only moments later, Steel City pressed forward with solid, sharp passing around the box, ending up with a cross from the left side, that connected with an unmarked Graeca — who headed in the game winner. The initial cross came in from Bodroy, while Nathan Prex (Lebanon Valley / Seneca Valley) made a run to the near post to create space — it was Jaxon Ervin (Duquesne / West Allegheny) who who placed header on back post, but the ball bounced back to Graeca, who came through into the space with a well-timed run, heading the ball low and hard into goal.

Photo Gallery courtesy Randy Warner 

“I think our ability to keep our heads in the final stages of the match was the deciding factor,” Brower said.

“That and our quality. Our winner a few minutes later (88th min) was a wonderful team goal with so many good collective actions – proud of the guys. We celebrate the three points tonight but quickly have to shift our attention to Erie tomorrow.”

Indeed, there’s not much time for rest, as Steel City FC (1-0-1, 4 points), who edged past FC Buffalo in the standings of the Great Forest Division — and now alone in first place for the moment — will travel to face Erie Sports Center on Saturday (4 p.m. kickoff).