A Tie with Titans: Akron City Draw with Steel City 1-1
Written by Sideline and Beat Reporter, Liv Sharp
A tale of two cities ends in yet another draw. Akron City FC visited Steel City FC and left with a point from a 1-1 tie.
The last time these teams saw each other, it was the first game of the USL2 season, and they drew 2-2.
Now, with the final push for the playoffs in front of each team, they both had unique goals entering the match. For Steel City, it was to further solidify their place at the top of the conference, and for Akron City, it was a need to get points to keep their postseason dreams alive.
SCFC entered the game off a stunning 4-1 victory up at FC Buffalo, and Akron City recorded their second clean sheet, besting the Cleveland Force 2-nil.
Head Coach Andy Hoggarth made some adjustments to the back line, starting Mikey Lennon, Stan Klaver and Milos Stajkovic. Remi Agunbiade also made his return to the starting eleven. Agunbiade scored one of the two goals against Steel City earlier in the season.
This also marked the first start against Steel City for ACFC goalkeeper Brett Kaminski. He came in at halftime during the first contest and did not allow a single goal. Since that game, Steel City would go on to score 18 goals, the most in the Great Forest Division.
For Akron City, this was the first time they’d meet Steel City Keeper, Josh Lane, and Captain Nick Graeca.
A scorching hot day out in Pittsburgh would provide a challenge in keeping the intensity high and the errors low.
The first fifteen minutes of play featured each team just trying to sort the other out. Only a few high-pressure situations, and luckily for Akron City, a goal by SCFC was called for offside in the 9th minute.
But the 18th was when the Steel City offense came alive with Jaxon Ervin’s first goal of the season. Steel City was patient with their possession, involving several players near the box, but it was Nathan Prex’s pass over the head of the ACFC defense that allowed Ervin to finish past Kaminski.
The heat would continue to be a factor as exhaustion set in for both teams, and water breaks were unable to slake the nearly ninety-degree temperature.
Akron City had a trio of set-piece opportunities in the 26th, but a triplet of Steel City headers stopped them all.
They would not have another opportunity like that until late in the first half, but Steel City cleared the free kick out.
With the sun high across Founders Field, the intensity rose with Jannis Schmidt and James Buebendorf earning yellow cards and a spot in the books.
Steel City would have a last-minute chance off a dangerous corner from Anthony DiFalco, but like many SCFC shots, it soared far over the net, posing no threat to Kaminski.
They’d enter the half down 1-nil
“Obviously, the surface, the heat is making it a slow game at times, and we can’t see the goal by allowing runners to run off, not tracking him, and it cost us the one real moment of the half,” said Hoggarth.
ACFC started the second half with the same squad that entered the first with a renewed vigor, which allowed them to see out the second half. Akron City’s patience would pay off in the 66th minute, with a soaring goal from Stefan Dobrijevic. Jannis Schmidt would get the ball off a takeaway, then a high pass over a defender would land in front of Dobrijevic. His shot would soar over an outstretched Lane and bounce into the goal as the equalizer.
“We had to go a bit more direct, and we saw a service ball from behind, set up nicely, and he finished it well,” said Hoggarth.
Kaminski truly shone in the second half with numerous tests from SCFC, particularly in the last 15 minutes.
One that had all ACFC fans holding their breath was in the 85th minute, a toe poke from McIntyre, who’d been threatening all night, was saved by Kaminski
Before he even had a second to recover, another shot was sent his way from a few yards outside the box. Kaminski outstretched to deflect it, ending the SCFC series.
He’d be tested one more time in the final minute of the contest, blocking the first shot with his foot, and he ended the game with a diving “Superman” save to put the draw in the books.
Hoggarth said, “He’s a top top goalkeeper, and we’ve seen it today for sure with the saves he’s made.”
Akron City FC will return home for a final pair of home games, the first against Toledo Villa on the 2nd and then Erie Sports Center on the 5th.
ACFC tied with Toledo Villa 3-3, after their three-goal lead was erased, and Erie Sports Center delivered Akron City’s first loss of the season with a 3-0 shutout.
Akron City is looking for redemption from both those matches and needs all the support they can get from fans at Green Street Stadium.
“It’s the holiday week, so we can get as big a crowd out, and they’ll see the guys put two home performances in,” said Hoggarth. It's huge for us when we have an environment like we do.”
A two-game bundle, which includes tickets to both games, is now available for only $15, as well as single-game tickets.
Tickets can be purchased at this link: https://tickets.uslleaguetwo.com/events/akron-city-fc-2025-season/event_times