Steel City FC men shrug off another extended weather delay to defeat Cleveland, 2-0

File Photo courtesy Randy Warner

USL League Two – Great Forest Division

Final:  Steel City FC 2, Cleveland Force 0

USL League Two Match Stats

Steel City FC’s men’s first team are getting used to the unpredictable weather that comes in Western Pennsylvania in the Spring, enduring yet another long delay, then coming out on the winning side, this time beating Cleveland Force, 2-0, at Founders Field, in a match that ended close to Midnight Thursday.

“It was another late night at Founders, but again the guys handled the delay well,” Dan Brower, Steel City FC’s Head Coach, said following the win.

With the win, Steel City (3W-1L-1D, 10 points) move past FC Buffalo, in first place of USL League Two’s Great Forest Division standings.

Steel City and Cleveland were scoreless when the weather halted play in the 30th minute.

Both teams had to adjust after the restart, with Cleveland moving their backline around to a three-center back system.

“This affected our rhythm a bit,” Brower admitted.

Cleveland brought pressure, forcing Steel City goalkeeper Josh Lane, making his first start with the club, into making a strong save, denying a redirect from a corner in the 35th minute.

With the match still scoreless, Steel City responded after the break, bringing pressure through the middle and wide channels to deliver an important one-two punch to take control of the match.

In the 47th minute, defender Victor Koah (Robert Morris) sent a dangerous shot from distance, which was saved, but Anders Bordoy (Kiski Area / Pitt) was the man on the spot, knocking home the go-ahead goal.

Earning a corner three minutes later, Brower noted that his team took advantage of Cleveland’s zonal defending.

Steel City’s captain, Nick Graeca found the opening, taking advantage of a well-delivered corner from Bordoy, driving in the header finish to give the hosts a 2-0 lead. Anders with another excellent delivery.

Lane came up two more times late in the match to keep the clean sheet.

Brower noted that squad rotation will be a critical element moving forward, as Steel City will be back in action less than 48 hours after the win, hosting Erie Sports Center in a rematch on Saturday (3 p.m. at Founders Field).

** NOTE ** Saturday’s match will be part of Steel City’s Annual Awards Day.  Brower boasted that 11 players on the current first team squad are currently in the Steel City Academy or are products of the Academy.

“Our Academy’s importance to our First Team setup goes far beyond simply providing our young talent a pathway to USL League Two and “next level” football — it’s a cultural pillar of the club,” Brower stated.

“We are all a part of something special here at the club. Steel City FC is a unique and highly ambitious club – always willing to challenge the status quo. These genuine selections remind everyone that First Team opportunities are real. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”