Back in the Big Dance: Steel City FC storms back to defeat Croatia Cleveland to earn US Open Cup berth

For the second time in three years, Steel City FC has advanced to the US Open Cup proper tournament.

The Pittsburgh-based club, which competed in USL League Two for the first-time in 2025, after previously part of NPSL, defeated Croatia Cleveland, 3-2, at Mentor High School, in Mentor, OH on Saturday evening.

“I want to applaud our boys tonight for their effort against a very strong Croatia Cleveland team,” Dan Brower, Steel City FC Head Coach, told Pittsburgh Soccer Now following the win.

“This win goes beyond the players and staff who were in Cleveland tonight.  This win is for everyone who has helped us out over this three-plus month journey. As you know, we tasted the Cup competition in the past, and we can’t wait to try to make a magical run in 2026.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

Even though Steel City earned the first corner of the game and had two other picture-perfect deliveries roll across the Croatian goal, it was a relatively poor start for Steel City with a pair of quick bookings (Anthony Rowan and Cam Territo).

Things went from bad to worse, as Steel City conceded a goal in the 13th minute.

A minute after Croatia found themselves on a breakaway after a Steel City corner kick, but Adam Wade’s shot was smothered by Watson, Croatia’s Ben Truax, a member of AFC Cleveland’s 2017 Open Cup squad, received a pass from midfield, beat two Steel City defenders, and calmly sent his shot past Watson for a 1-0 lead.

It was the first time Steel City trailed in the qualifying rounds.

Known for its ability to push back, Steel City found that second gear again.

Chances started to come, when Territo was fouled in a dangerous area in the 16th minute, creating a free kick, then on a counter, Nick Graeca had a quality run at one — but a hard shot went high in the 19th minute.

Steel City’s high press sprang into action in the 31st minute with Jack Nury, Sam Boehm, Stefano Paulina and Territo winning the ball back deep inside Croatia’s back half to earn a set piece because of their pressure.  Boehm’s delivery to Territo was only inches away from getting the equalizer.

Steel City remained in their 4-4-2 diamond as the score held near the end of the half.

Brower considered changing shape and tactics to begin the 2nd half, however, Steel City would not have to consider a change because of a late 1st half flurry.

Nicky Graeca intercepted a cross-field pass, then played a forward ball into Boehm, who caused problems all night for the Croatian defenders, both with and without the ball.

Boehm danced around the top of the box to create a chance.  His shot was blocked out for a corner in the 39th minute.  Steel City’s pressure was relentless and it felt like a matter of time before they would capitalize.

Brower said that one of the keys to the match for his squad would be to exploit the spaces behind Croatia’s two center backs.

With a sense that Steel City’s frontrunners could outpace the Croatian central defenders, Steel City started to pick up the pace in playing direct into those spaces.

In the 42nd minute, Rowan and Boehm connected.

Boehm got forward with a penetrating run as Rowan delivered a perfect 50 yard pass in behind the Croatian right center back.

Boehm found himself one-on-one with Musa, beating the goalkeeper by slotting his shot inside the back post for the equalizer.

In first half stoppage time each team had great chances to take a 2-1 lead into halftime, and it was Steel City that did so.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Croatia were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area. Just as they did in the previous round versus Akron City that led to a goal in that game, Carson and Tanner Hodgson stood over the ball, each player feigned kicking the ball until Tanner’s shot just missed the post and landed in the side netting.

Two minutes later at the other end of the field, Steel City found themselves with a free kick just inches outside the side of the penalty area. Stefano Paulino sent in a shot the Musa initially swatted away, but the player Brower described as Johnny “on the spot” — Jack Nury — dove towards the ground to head the ball in and give the Pittsburghers the lead as the referee blew his whistle for halftime as soon as the ball was kicked off again.

Brower opted to make one change at halftime.

With Rowan on a yellow, Clint McElheny would enter the match at right center back, with Nolan Hutter moving over to left back

As expected, Croatia made an initial push in the opening periods of the 2nd half, but Steel City didn’t break, staying connected defensively.

Into the second half, Steel City would get a foothold of the game and creates more separation as they started to really execute its match plan.

In the 61st minute, with Steel City in a mid-block, Boehm intercepted a ball at the halfway line to set off a counter opportunity, along with Territo and Paulina — who went right at Croatia’s backline.

The sequence ended with Boehm getting brought down in the penalty area by Cleveland’s Jacob Roberto.

“Boehm was positioned perfectly between the opponent’s center back and outside back,” Brower cited.

“It was an exquisite first touch, that took him past both, then he won his duel to get in on goal and the Croatian defender had to take him down, as it was a clear penalty.”

Nick Graecea stepped to the spot in the 64th minute, sending Musa the wrong way with a low shot to the left post for a 3-1 lead.

With an always-dangerous two-goal lead, Steel City dropped its guard, allowing more space for Croatia to operate in City’s back half in the ensuing 15 minutes.

With the second half clock rapidly running out, Croatia were awarded a free kick at the top of the penalty area, but Tanner Hodgson’s attempt was cleared for a Croatia corner kick.

The ensuing corner kick wound up going long but was recovered by Cleveland, who brought it back around to AFC Cleveland and Cleveland SC Open Cup veteran Michael Derezic. As Derezic began to dribble up the middle of the penalty area, he was brought down by Steel City’s Jerevel Tobierre, earning a penalty kick.

Derezic stepped to the spot himself and sent his shot through the hands of Watson to pull Croatia to with one goal at 3-2.

In the 88th minute Croatia had a golden opportunity to repeat their two-goal comeback against Akron City, when Tanner Hodgson’s free kick from just outside the penalty area was sent skyward by teammate Amir Serikbaev. A few minutes later, Serikbaev may have considered himself lucky to stay on the field when he stopped Donrick Richards with a horse collar that would have earned him a 15-yard penalty in the NFL, but this time he was only shown a yellow card.

Looking for reinforcement and to hold the lead, Brower brought on two more substitutions in an attempt to bring in fresh legs.  Donrick Richards replaced Matt Perry in the 89th and Matthew Teitelbaum entered the match for Boehm in 90+3.

In the dying embers of stoppage time Croatia pressed to find a last gas equalizer but Steel City kept their attack at bay.

Richards and Territo earned fouls late, plus relentless pressing from City’s substitutes and dogged midfield along with their backline’s strong clearances and well-timed tackles all helped to kill off the match.

As the whistle blew, Steel City celebrated along with the small group of fans that traveled from Pittsburgh.

John Krysinsky

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).