As I stated in my last report Eire Commodores were probably CSC’s biggest threat this season and so it proved as the visitors ran out 3-1 winners at BW on Friday night. 

A somewhat dull game between two evenly matched sides pivoted on a series of events in the last 5 minutes of the first half. Firstly, a CSC player headed the ball wide of the Erie goal, fell awkwardly and then was sent off by the referee. One has to assume he said something unspeakable to the man in charge. To be honest, it was probably justified as the ref was already well on his way to having an forgettable evening. Despite being down to 10 men CSC then immediately had the best chance of game,  a 1 on 1 with just the keeper to beat, but the attacker lost his composure and the chance was lost. Then, with practically the last kick of the half the visitors took the lead with their first effort on goal. 

Erie were a well organized side and it was always going to be a challenge for CSC to get back into the game down a goal and a man. Despite keeping it competitive for another half hour the home side eventually tired and the visitors ran out 3-1 winners. 

Edited June 1, 20196 yr by roman totale XVII

CSC followed the home loss to Erie with surprising road defeat at Rochester. However, a win at Pittsburgh Hotspurs got them back on the winning track. 

Sunday was a home game against Syracuse, who CSC had already defeated in NY 5-1 on the opening day of the season. The visitors had just earned its its first point of the season with a surprising 0-0 draw at Erie. It was a warm, but very windy day in Berea and the wind contributed to a rather scrappy game where Syracuse employed probably the same tactic that they’d used at Erie. Namely, packing the midfield to stifle the game and being happy to take a point. CSC dominated possession and despite not creating too many clear cut chances, ran out comfortable 2-0 winners. The first goal was always likely to come from a set-piece and did so in the form of a magnificent free kick from all of 30 yards that rattled into the top corner. 

Two important road games are next at Erie and Buffalo, the two teams CSC are scrapping with for the division. Next home game is not until July 5th. At least it’s at Krenzler Field, so it’s a five minute walk from my apartment and I can get a beer in Becky’s before and after!

Edited June 10, 20196 yr by roman totale XVII

So, CSC won the two road games at Erie and Buffalo and came back home last Friday night to play Pittsburgh at Krenzler Field. CSC ran out 3-0 winners against a visiting team who, in the first half at least, belied its lowly position and were unlucky not to score at least one goal. 

The win assuring CSC of a berth in the playoffs. 

The game was played out in front of easily the best crowd so far this season. I’d like to say it was all because it was downtown, but a junior soccer tournament held earlier in the day also added to the turnout as many kids and parents stayed on to watch. 

The final game of the regular season is this Saturday back at BW (zzzz) against Buffalo. A win will guarantee CSC top spot in the division. A draw will probably still secure the division as Rochester would need to win it’s game by about 10 goals to overtake Cleveland on goal difference. 

CSC won the last game of the season at a canter, beating FC Buffalo 5-1 at BW. 

The result means Cleveland clinched the division as well as top seeding in the regional playoffs. 

Those playoffs will take place next weekend at Detroit City FC. CSC will first play on Friday night against the winners of the playoff between Ann Arbor and Rochester. If victorious, the final will be on Sunday afternoon against one of Detroit City, Minneapolis City or Med City (from Rochester, Minnesota)

Does Cleveland SC qualify to play for the US Open? How is that structured. 

7 minutes ago, YABO713 said:

Does Cleveland SC qualify to play for the US Open? How is that structured. 

 

The NPSL has 14 slots to fill and chooses it's 'best' 14 teams to play in the US Open. I can't promise I know for sure how they do that, but CSC ought to qualify for next year given the division win, plus finishing with the 5th best record in the whole, nation-wide NPSL and the second best record in the East. Erie Commodores won the division last season and participated in this year's US Open.

So, CSC still doesn’t know it’s opponent for the semi-final on Friday night, as the playoff game between Ann Arbor and Rochester last night descended into a circus. 

 

The short version is the NSPL decided that it was OK to play a vital game midweek, in the evening, at an Ann Arbor stadium that doesn’t have floodlights. Rochester had, quite rightly, already pointed this out as a potential issue and AA and NPSL apparently ‘solved’ this by arranging for an indoor soccer facility, 30-45 mins drive away to host the any remainder of the game should it go into extra time and the light fail.

 

No. I’m being serious. That was the fix.

 

The game then got stopped twice for significant lightning breaks as bad storms blew in and the match was eventually stopped tied at 0-0 in the 69th minute with the field in absolute darkness. 

 

There was then a whole round of ‘he said, she said’ about what to do next from going to the indoor school, having a PK shootout, or just tossing a coin. None of this things happened and Rochester got back on the bus with no-one knowing what was going on. 

 

In in the middle of night, NPSL announced that the tie would be decided by a coin-toss today. Then following cries of BS from everyone have now said the remaining 21 minutes and any necessary extra time or shootout, will now take place at the neutral venue of Erie Commodores on Thursday night. 

 

As I said, that’s the short version. You can find more on social media and probably the most objective summary here;

 

 

Edited July 17, 20195 yr by roman totale XVII

^ Rochester finally prevailed in this playoff on PKs after extra time in Erie to face Cleveland in the semi final Friday night at Detroit City FC.

 

Any thoughts that Rochester could be tired were soon dispelled as CSC fell behind 2-0 within the first 10 mins. Cleveland pulled a goal back before halftime and dominated possession in the second half with Rochester content to play on the break. It seemed that tactic worked as the New Yorkers took a 3-1 lead with a breakaway goal with just 9 minutes left. However, CSC refused to go down easily and scored twice in the last 5 minutes to send the tie into extra time.

 

The additional 30 minutes were non-stop as CSC went 4-3 up, only to be pegged back to 4-4 before Cleveland finally put the tie to bed with two more goals to run out 6-4 winners, despite having a man sent off for a second yellow card. 

 

Cleveland now face the hosts, Detroit City, on Sunday afternoon in the Midwest Regional Final. The home team winning 2-0 against Minneapolis in the later game Friday in front of crowd of 4,500.  

 

Cleveland SC saw off the host Detroit City on Sunday afternoon to claim the Midwest Championship and advance to the national semifinal with a shot at moving on to the National championship game. 

 

In front of another large crowd in Hamtramck, CSC enjoyed slightly the better of the first half and created the best chances, but went in at the break down 2-0 thanks to two late Detroit goals right before the half. The first a fluke cross that found its way into the net, followed by a PK right on halftime.     

 

As in in the semi final though, CSC found a two goal deficit nothing too hard to overcome and dominated large parts of the second half and pulled back to 2-2 to send the game into extra time. The additional 30 minutes failed to produce another goal, so it went into the dreaded penalty shoot out in which the good guys prevailed 3-2. 

 

So, it’s onto the semifinal next Saturday against FC Miami. New York Cosmos or ASC San Diego await in the final. 

 

EDIT: The semi-final is at Florida International University Soccer Stadium at 7.00pm. Fun fact, I used to live and work just a few miles from there. 

Edited July 22, 20195 yr by roman totale XVII

The season finally came to an end Saturday night in Miami with CSC going down 4-1 at the semi-final stage. 

As if traveling (by car) to play the defending NPSL champions and #2 seed wasn’t hard enough, another blow came when both of CSC’s key strikers were ruled out with injury leaving the Clevelanders looking very light-weight as an attacking force. 

By all accounts (I didn’t see the game as I was at Blossom taking in Elgar’s Enigma) Miami FC were, by some distance, the best team CSC has faced in its two year existence and the score line was a fair reflection of a game that the Floridians controlled throughout. They now move onto the final to play at #1 seed New York Cosmos next Saturday. 

On 7/15/2019 at 2:42 PM, YABO713 said:

Does Cleveland SC qualify to play for the US Open? How is that structured. 

https://thecup.us/2019/08/09/which-npsl-teams-will-qualify-for-2020-us-open-cup/

 

insane amount of detail on how teams are chosen by NPSL for the Open Cup. Includes bonus old-timey spelling of our cities name! 

In conclusion, I think the answer is ‘yes’ CSC will be in the 2020 Open Cup.