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Preview: Steel City FC vs Croatia Cleveland, 5 p.m. (2026 US Open Cup Qualifying 4th Round)

2026 US Open Cup 4th Round Qualifying Match

Steel City FC (USL League Two)

vs

Croatia Cleveland (North Coast Soccer Lg./USASA)

Saturday, November 22, 2025 | 5 p.m. | Mentor High School Soccer Stadium, in Mentor, Ohio

Match Day Updates

Look for match updates to be posted here

Match Preview

Following Steel City FC’s 1-0 win against Capital City Islanders on November 2 at Founders Field, Pittsburgh’s USL League Two club advanced to the Fourth Round of Qualifying for the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament.

Now, Steel City are in a win-and-they’re-in scenario.

If the Pittsburgh squad wants to get into the proper US Open Cup tournament, the road will go through Cleveland.

That’s right, the Boys in Blue and Gold will face off against Croatia Cleveland at Mentor High School Soccer Stadium, in Mentor, Ohio.

Midfielder and veteran contributor, Nolan Hutter shared his thoughts on what he’s seen from Croatia Cleveland.

“A relentless group,” Hutter shared.

“They’re going to come out battling. They, you know, they’re down 3-1 in extra time (in last qualifying match vs Steel City FC’s League Two rivals Akron FC), and they’re able to come back and send it to penalties. You know, however it got there, you know, they were willing to put in the fight, and they’re not going to be an easy out by any means, so we don’t expect that from anybody at this stage.”

Steel City’s Head Coach Dan Brower was impressed from what he saw from Croatia Cleveland on video.

Croatia Cleveland can play,” Brower stated.

“I was thoroughly impressed with a team who clearly knows who they are, and it’s obvious they have played a ton of minutes together over the years.  Croatia is loaded with experienced players who have shown they can adapt to different game states.  They showed the fight to come back from an early 1 goal deficit and then from 2 goals down late in extra time against a very good Akron side in their third-round match. They have the right mix of workhorses who compliment their crafty individuals.  They are skillful and can use the ball effectively.  It’s also an aggressive side who will be determined to advance to the 1st Rd Proper in March.”

Brower added: “They scored on 3 set piece goals (plus 5 out of 6 penalties in the shootout) vs Akron and so we will need to be disciplined to not give away fouls, and, if we do, we’ll need to be organized in and around our own box.  I think we have the experience to sort out those moments.”

To get to this point, Steel City FC have put in the work — and the fight too.
In assembling a makeshift roster of players, mostly out of college and those who’ve been with the club for some time along with some newcomers, Head Coach Dan Brower, who has won three-straight Division titles (last year in USL League Two’s Great Forest Division and the previous two in NPSL’s Great Lakes), has been able to get the most out of the group, even with a group of players who have real world, daily priorities, including jobs and families.
“I know our boys will be up for it.  We’ve been together since mid-August and have learned a lot about each other,” Brower told Pittsburgh Soccer Now.
“We have built strong relationships on and off the field.  No doubt, we have a better understanding of our collective and what makes us tough to beat.”
In two previous qualifying wins, Steel City FC won two very different challenges in two different styles of matches on home fields (at Founders Field and Rooney Field). First Steel City beat Capital City Islanders, 1-0, in a more methodical match on November 2, where they controlled play throughout but had to hold on until the final whistle, then outlasted FCY New York in October, in what was more of wild, back-and-forth affair, ending 3-2.
“It takes a lot to get here,” Hutter added.
“They’ve earned it just as much as we have, so, you know, we respect them as an opponent, and we know what we’re capable of, and we focus a lot on ourselves, rather than necessarily always looking at the opponent. We definitely take some notes, and we learn some things along the way through film and whatnot, and we prepare during training based upon what we expect from them.
“But, you know, for us, it’s more about looking inward, putting ourselves in the best position to win just by, just by, you know, continuing to train certain environments and, working on our game to be able to put out the best product possible.”
The group has continued to plug away and training despite ragged schedules and other obstacles as the weather has only gotten colder.
“We had a very good performance last weekend in a scrimmage against some of the area’s finest amateurs and so I thought we found a pretty good groove, but, to be honest, we didn’t have the best week of training. It was hit and miss with attendance due to jobs, injuries, family commitments. These things that are to be expected during these types of qualifying runs but, nonetheless, it’s never easy to cope with.”
Still, Brower believes his group will be ready as Steel City looks to get back to the proper US Open Cup tournament, which they made their only appearance as a club in March 2024, losing 1-0, when hosting pro side Michigan Stars at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
“We know many of our 1500 members – our wonderful families and all of our supporters will be watching the match with high hopes of seeing our club in the 2026 US Open Cup,” Brower added.
“If any of our players were looking for a walk in the park, this certainly isn’t going to be it. This last qualifying round will be a battle.”

For the full interview with Nolan Hutter, check out the Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast feed.

Sounding Off on Soccer: Riverhounds’ missing ingredient, plus Steel City FC’s Nolan Hutter on US Open Cup Qualifying run

Related Topics

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

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