Reese Utter headed home a corner in the 94th minute to give Ambassadors FC Ohio an improbable 4-3 comeback victory in Buffalo to clinch the 2nd seed in the Great Lakes Conference, earning the right to host a conference semifinal playoff match on Wednesday in Canton, Ohio.
AFC Ohio scored three times in the final 20 minutes of the match after going down 1-3 in the 58th minute. Ambassadors completed this comeback after starting goalkeeper Gavin Hill was forced to leave the match with injury in the 28th minute and was replaced by emergency goalkeeper Amir Spratt. Spratt came into the goal as the #8 ranked goalscorer in the NPSL and topped the Great Lakes Conference in scoring. His double save in the 62nd minute had a significant role in the result of the match. Matt Skladany’s hat trick performance made the difference for the visitors on the night.
Following a foul late in the second minute of the match, Buffalo earned a free kick just outside the corner of the penalty area. Ambassadors FC Ohio’s keeper Hill got a hand on the shot but redirected it back in front of the box, and the Stallions easily finished the second chance, giving them an early 0-1 lead.
From that point on, the match became very back and forth with AFC Ohio keeping the ball on the Buffalo half for extended periods of time finding rhythm and tempo.. AFC did an excellent job of swinging the ball throughout the back line, looking to penetrate and find openings. It became evident through the team’s efforts to keep possession and build out from the back line that their patience and confidence in possession might pay off.
In the 41st minute of the match, Ambassadors won a corner, which was beautifully placed at the top of the keeper’s 6-yard box and to the feet of Reese Utter, who took a chance on goal. While the first shot was blocked by the Stallion keeper, the rebound was met by Matthew Skladany. Skladany’s second chance was slightly deflected but trickled over the line bringing the visitors even going into halftime.
Coming out of the break, the Stallions pressed a bit higher than the 1st half and Ambassadors were a bit flat. In the 49th minute, Buffalo pressed on the right flank and sent a driven cross into the six-yard box. In an attempt to redirect the cross, Jacob Irani redirected the ball past Spratt at the near post and the own goal put Buffalo back on top.
Shortly after, Buffalo once again found themselves in possession of the ball in the AFC area. The Stallions whipped one across the face of the goal that Spratt could not secure and Keegan Hermann easily touched in the sitter to give the Stallions a 1-3 lead in the 58th minute.
Down two goals and knowing that a draw would be meaningless in the seeding, Ambassadors changed shape and inserted veteran attacker Bryan Kern to increase the tempo and create opportunities in the front third.
Then, in the 76th minute, Jordan Akins crossed the ball to the back post, where Skladany touched and volleyed the ball near post past the keeper and into the Buffalo goal, closing the goal deficit and igniting the fire blazing within the visiting team. At that point, it was all to play for.
Following the goal, AFC Ohio inserted veteran captain and center-back Omar Najjar into the match-up front to increase the experience and provide a different threat. Just three minutes later in the 80th, Najjar was fouled inside the box while driving to the goal, drawing a penalty. With cool, calm composure, Skladany stepped up to the spot and drove a low shot inside the left post and past the outstretched hands of the keeper, bringing Ambassadors even at 3-3 and within a goal of the 2nd seed.
The game became very stretched at the point with the Stallions on the back foot and AFC Ohio throwing players forward and continuing to pressure the backline. The 4th official held up the board showing five added minutes. In the 94th, AFC won a corner with their pressure. Spratt came up into the box with nothing left to lose. Brenden Swann served and Reese Utter was first to it to redirect a perfect header into the net giving AFC the most improbable come-from-behind victory on the night.
Ambassadors FC Ohio won the right to host a Great Lakes Conference semifinal match in their inaugural season in the NPSL. The match is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 9 at 7:00 p.m. at Dr. David & Winnie King Field in Canton, Ohio.
