Akron City bests Ambassadors Football Club in Friendly
Writer: Sideline and Beat Reporter, Liv Sharp
Two northeast Ohio powerhouses united for a greater cause and the love of the game. Akron City FC (USL2) and Ambassadors Football Club (NPSL) faced off in a friendly match on Saturday, with proceeds from the match going to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
While ACFC bested AFC by a 2-1 final, it wasn’t an easily earned victory. A rare break from USL2 action provided an opportunity for Head Coach Andy Hoggarth and his staff to try new formations, put players in new positions, and even add some more talent to the squad.
“It’s a good chance for us to look at them in a live environment,” said Hoggarth. “I think just keep us working on our new system, more of some of those basics.”
The starting eleven saw the first starts for defender James Buebendorf and midfielder Marko Odorcic.
The Ambassadors came out of the gate packed with intensity, an early challenge for Coach Hoggarth’s new defensive formation with the back line of Jamai Royer, Milos Stajkovic, and Quinn Groves.
The tides began to shift in Akron City’s favor after Royer cleared out the ball from the Akron City box. Remi Agunbiade picked it up around midfield before dropping it back to Stefan Dobrijevic. Dobriejevic passed back to Agunbiade to shake off defenders before receiving the ball in the Ambassador box and finding the back of the net. Ambassadors keeper Caydence Robinson slid for the save but could not make it in time. That made a one-nil lead that Akron kept going into the half.
But the remaining thirty-five-plus minutes were used to showcase new players who joined Akron City for the friendly and possibly beyond, through adjusted subbing rules. Those players were Ben Burgess a defenseman from Rollins College and a pair of midfielders: Gabe Altawil and Isaiah Allen from Walsh University and Lake Erie College, respectively.
However during stoppage time following the first half, what was billed as a friendly turned physical quickly. Dylan Halm’s shot was blocked by the keeper Robinson who body-checked Buebendorf into the back bar of the net while the latter was making a play for the ball.
No foul was called and ACFC headed into the break worse for the wear, having lost Dobrijevic earlier in the match and now with further injuries to Buebendorf.
“Yeah it’s a ‘friendly’ but it’s never a friendly, but we’re also not going to risk something that could cost us injuries for next week,” said Hoggarth.
The second half featured most of the same squad that had ended the first half, with one notable change. It saw the debut of Parker Stusek, the St. John Fisher University commit, between the pipes.
Much like the first half, both teams had good looks but neither could finish their possessions. Both Dylan Halm and Altawil nearly had goals
However, Akron City would return to a place which they’ve become all too familiar with: a draw.
A header from Mathew Skladany off a set piece tied the game at one. Groves had attempted to steal the ball from Randy Harris but ended up out of bounds setting up the Ambassador corner.
“I think it’s just a grind and a desire, gotta put your body on the line a little bit and throw yourself in front of things and that’s what we've got to get better at,” said Hoggarth.
But unlike the rest of the ties thus far, Akron City broke the stalemate ironically in the 90th minute. Agunbiade was fouled outside of the box which brought up a free kick for Akron City. Hoggarth turned to old faithful Colin Biros, a standout on set-piece goals, and he delivered to the tune of a ball hooking right past the hands of the Ambassador keeper.
That’s how the score would remain at the final whistle, while this game didn’t yield three points it did yield a dose of confidence for the ACFC squad. But it also left plenty to work on as they face the gauntlet of the back half of the USL2 season.
“We’ve been preaching all along that we need more energy and seeing it in the last ten was what we wanted to see.”
ACFC continues their four-game homestand on Saturday, June 14th against Cleveland Force SC. Akron City took the first match of the Battle of Northeast Ohio 2-1 and looks to continue the winning ways back at Green Street Stadium.
“I think we saw we move the ball quickly and combine then we create success, that's what we gotta look at again this week in training.”
The Force are on a three-game losing streak and Akron City is still looking for their first USL2 win on John Cistone Field. With plenty of surprises and activities in store, this derby match isn’t one to miss. Tickets are now available at https://tickets.uslleaguetwo.com/events/akron-city-fc-2025-season/event_times
Kickoff is set for 7 pm.