2026 US Open Cup 4th Round Qualifying Match
Steel City FC (USL League Two)
vs
Croatia Cleveland (North Coast Soccer Lg./USASA)
Saturday, November 22, 2025 | 5 p.m. | Mentor High School Soccer Stadium, in Mentor, Ohio
Match Day Updates
Look for match updates to be posted here
LIVE
HALF: STEEL CITY FC 2, CROATIA CLEVELAND 1
Match Preview
Following Steel City FC’s 1-0 win against Capital City Islanders on November 2 at Founders Field, Pittsburgh’s USL League Two club advanced to the Fourth Round of Qualifying for the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament.
Now, Steel City are in a win-and-they’re-in scenario.
If the Pittsburgh squad wants to get into the proper US Open Cup tournament, the road will go through Cleveland.
That’s right, the Boys in Blue and Gold will face off against Croatia Cleveland at Mentor High School Soccer Stadium, in Mentor, Ohio.
Midfielder and veteran contributor, Nolan Hutter shared his thoughts on what he’s seen from Croatia Cleveland.
“A relentless group,” Hutter shared.
“They’re going to come out battling. They, you know, they’re down 3-1 in extra time (in last qualifying match vs Steel City FC’s League Two rivals Akron FC), and they’re able to come back and send it to penalties. You know, however it got there, you know, they were willing to put in the fight, and they’re not going to be an easy out by any means, so we don’t expect that from anybody at this stage.”
Steel City’s Head Coach Dan Brower was impressed from what he saw from Croatia Cleveland on video.
Croatia Cleveland can play,” Brower stated.
“I was thoroughly impressed with a team who clearly knows who they are, and it’s obvious they have played a ton of minutes together over the years. Croatia is loaded with experienced players who have shown they can adapt to different game states. They showed the fight to come back from an early 1 goal deficit and then from 2 goals down late in extra time against a very good Akron side in their third-round match. They have the right mix of workhorses who compliment their crafty individuals. They are skillful and can use the ball effectively. It’s also an aggressive side who will be determined to advance to the 1st Rd Proper in March.”
Brower added: “They scored on 3 set piece goals (plus 5 out of 6 penalties in the shootout) vs Akron and so we will need to be disciplined to not give away fouls, and, if we do, we’ll need to be organized in and around our own box. I think we have the experience to sort out those moments.”
The group has continued to plug away and training despite ragged schedules and other obstacles as the weather has only gotten colder.
“We had a very good performance last weekend in a scrimmage against some of the area’s finest amateurs and so I thought we found a pretty good groove, but, to be honest, we didn’t have the best week of training. It was hit and miss with attendance due to jobs, injuries, family commitments. These things that are to be expected during these types of qualifying runs but, nonetheless, it’s never easy to cope with.”
“We know many of our 1500 members – our wonderful families and all of our supporters will be watching the match with high hopes of seeing our club in the 2026 US Open Cup,” Brower added.
“If any of our players were looking for a walk in the park, this certainly isn’t going to be it. This last qualifying round will be a battle.”
