Steel City FC celebrates after defeating Croatia Cleveland 3-2 to qualify for the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: Randy WernerHours after the Pittsburgh Riverhounds claimed their first ever USL Championship title, Steel City FC of USL League Two added to the celebrations in Western Pennsylvania. The USL League Two side went on the road and qualified for the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 3-2 win over Croatia Cleveland at Menton High School in Mentor, Ohio.
Steel City will now return to the US Open Cup for the second time after making their tournament debut in 2024 as a member of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL).
Both teams started the first half with good scoring opportunities. In the 5th minute, a pass from the left touchline found Jack Nury near the goalpost, but Croatia goalkeeper Marijo Musa was able to swat it away. Three minutes later Croatia has a chance of their own when they were awarded a fee kick a few yards to the right of the penalty area. Carson Hodgson sent the kick into the box, and Steel City goalkeeper Garret Watson fell to the turf when he collided with a Steel City defender while trying to clear the ball. In the end, Croatia’s John Dulfdner sent his shot at an open goal past the far post.
Croatia got on the board first in the 13th minute. Just a minute before, Croatia found themselves on a breakaway after a Steel City corner kick, but Adam Wade’s shot was smothered by Watson. A minute later 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.
Near the end of the first half, Steel City would equalize and then take the lead. In the 42nd minute, Sam Boehm collected a pass from past midfield, and found himself one-on-one with Musa, beating the goalkeeper to make it 1-1.
Nick Graeca and Sam Boehm of Steel City FC celebrate after scoring a goal against Croatia Cleveland in a 2026 US Open Cup qualifier. Photo: Randy WernerIn 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 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.
Seventeen minutes into the second half Steel City doubled its lead when Sam Boehm was brought down in the penalty area by Cleveland’s Jacob Roberto. Nick Graecea stepped to the spot and sent Musa the wrong way with a low shot to the left post for a 3-1 lead. Eight minutes later Steel City found themselves on a counterattack which Croatia was able to snuff out.
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.
Sam Boehm of Steel City FC strikes the ball in a 2026 US Open Cup qualifier against Croatia Cleveland. Photo: Randy WernerIn 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.
In the dying embers of stoppage time Croatia pressed to find a last gas equalizer but Steel City kept their attack at bay and were soon celebrating along with the small group of fans that travelled from Pittsburgh as the referee blew his whistle for full time.
Afterwards, Steel City head coach Dan Brower gave a nod to their opponents as well as his own team.
“I want to applaud our boys tonight for their effort against a very strong Croatia Cleveland team,” said Brower. “But 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-month journey. We’ve tasted the Cup competition in the past, and we can’t wait to try to make a magical run in 2026.”
Steel City returns to the Open Cup seeking their first win in the tournament proper. In 2024, they narrowly lost 1-0 to the Michigan Stars of NISA in the opening round.