Match Summary

Ambassadors FC Ohio hit the road and turned a new leaf as they secured a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Niagara 1812 on a windy evening in Lewiston, New York. Coming off a draw against northeast Ohio rival Cleveland SC, this match was crucial to get three points and to establish higher expectations for their first NPSL season. 

Despite a well-organized opponent in Niagara 1812, and hitting the crossbar four times in 90 minutes, AFC Ohio delivered a determined effort to come away with their second win of the season.

In the first five minutes of the match, it appeared as though Niagara 1812 was poised to possess in front of the compact Ambassadors FC Ohio and dictate the play. They maintained possession, created opportunities for extended passing sequences, and even had an early opportunity for a shot in just the first minute of the match, turning up the heat quickly. But, as soon as Ambassadors found their rhythm, they were quick to extinguish the flame that was Niagara 1812 in the opening minutes.

After a feeling-out process and probing the 1812 organization with balls over the backline, AFC adjusted to head coach Ryan Dean’s tactical match plan and began to hit their stride just before the tenth minute of the match, when the attack had several good looks on goal. While the offense was a bit relentless in the Niagara half, the defense held shape while being opportunistic in the counterattack.

“The consistency of our defending having that ‘bend, don’t break’ attitude helped us for sure,” said Dean.

During a sustained moment of possession in the 25th minute of the match, Randy Harris of Ambassadors FC Ohio unleashed a low shot across the face of the goal, forcing an urgent save from the Niagara keeper, who managed to to parry the take into the path of Amir Spratt, ready in just the right place at just the right time, as he met the keeper’s deflection and effortlessly slotted the ball into the back of the net. This goal seemed to be a confirmation for Ambassadors FC Ohio establishing a much-deserved lead.

As the match progressed, AFC remained staunch and organized, limiting 1812 in opportunities to possess and taking away the spaces in between the lines. AFC wing back Brendan French was a true threat to Niagara. Not only did he let nothing past him on the flanks, but he was also a formidable force on offense, showing off his speed and tactical vision as he made runs in all of the channels across the backline throughout the match.

Physicality was high throughout the match with fouls piling up on both sides, however, it was Niagara 1812 who drew the first caution. Following a foul in the box on Amir Spratt later in the half, Ambassadors FC Ohio’s central midfielder, Josh Lord, had the opportunity to further his team’s lead in the game, taking the penalty, however, the shot was saved with a low dive to the left by the keeper. Despite several more close attempts, one off the crossbar and one off the post, the first half concluded with Ambassadors leading 1-0, just like the prior two games. 

The second half produced no goal from either team, but was far from uneventful. The fouls and anxiety continued to pile up throughout the half, resulting in the frustrated home team receiving two more yellow cards and the Niagara coaching staff getting one of their own. Despite Ambassadors FC Ohio’s captain Omar Najjar picking up the final yellow of the match in what appeared to be a clean tackle after the 90-minute mark in added time, the away team played a clean half. 

Although the 90 minutes were up, the game was still very much alive. The five minutes of extra time included another AFC shot that hit the crossbar, a near-miss off a scuffle resulting in a point-blank save from the 1812 keeper that literally knocked him off his feet, and the final Niagara caution of the night. Ultimately, the game concluded with a final score of 1-0, adding three points to Ambassadors FC Ohio’s record. 

“The squad was a bit stretched due to injury and other conflicts, so we made the best group available and they got the job done,” said AFC Head Coach Dean.

In a highly anticipated rematch, Ambassadors FC Ohio will face Cleveland SC for the second time in seven days on June 4th at 7:00 PM at George Finnie Stadium on the campus of Baldwin Wallace University.

AKRON/CANTON, OH– Soccer fans in Northeast Ohio will experience a new rivalry this year as Akron City FC of USL League Two and Ambassadors FC Ohio of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) come together for a special charity friendly match on Saturday, June 7, 2025. These two pre-professional sides in the 4th tier of American soccer will bring new life to their competition at Green Street Stadium on the campus of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m.

More than just a battle for local bragging rights, the match serves a greater purpose—supporting the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. All proceeds from ticket sales and a portion of other revenue will directly benefit the Foodbank’s mission to provide food and essential resources to individuals and families facing hunger in the region.

“We are honored to partner with our colleagues Nick and Andy at Akron City FC for this special ‘derby’ match,” said Bob Dean, Director of Men’s Football Operations for Ambassadors Football. “This match is a chance for the community to enjoy the best high-level soccer in the area while also making a real impact in the fight against food insecurity in our region. We are called to serve in our mission and our partnership with the Foodbank is the foundation of that call being answered. There is no more important time than now to help the Foodbank considering the cuts to their funding that have taken place.”

Akron City FC, a successful member of the NPSL from 2022 to 2024 is entering their first year in USL2, while Ambassadors FC Ohio, founded in 2021, is in its inaugural season in the NPSL in 2025. 

“It was a ‘no-brainer’ to establish an annual derby match with our friends from Ambassadors,” said Nick Turchan, owner of Akron City FC. “Building local rivalries is key to growing the game at the grassroots level, and creating more meaningful matches in our community helps strengthen the sport’s foundation in this country. To do it for a great cause makes it even more special. This is about more than just competition—it’s about bringing people together through soccer and making a lasting impact.”

All proceeds from ticket sales, as well as a portion from beer sales and parking, will go directly to fund the Foodbank’s efforts. Tickets for the charity friendly match are available for $15 per person, with kids 6 and under admitted free. Fans are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations to the game to further support the Foodbank’s efforts.

“Soccer has the power to bring people together, and this match is a testament to that,” said Dan Flowers, Foodbank president and CEO. “Community partnerships are vital to our ability to provide food to the 1 in 7 individuals in our community who may struggle with hunger. We’re grateful the teams have chosen to support local hunger relief.”

Both teams are preparing for their first season in their respective leagues, and this match offers a unique opportunity for players to showcase their talent while strengthening community ties.

For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.akroncityfc.com/ https://tickets.uslleaguetwo.com/events/akron-city-fc-2025-season/event_times/1589587

About the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is the source of emergency food for 630 pantries, meal sites, shelters and food programs serving children and older adults across Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties. Last year, the Foodbank provided access to food for 31.4 million meals, the largest year in the organization’s history. As the demand for food remains elevated, the community’s support means the difference between hunger and hope for neighbors experiencing hunger. 

To learn more or to donate, visit www.akroncantonfoodbank.org.

About Ambassadors FC Ohio

Ambassadors FC Ohio of the NPSL is the men’s pre-professional program of Ambassadors Football, a global Christian soccer mission headquartered in northeast Ohio with missions in 35 countries. The NPSL is the first and only men’s league designated as a Tier 1 national league. Founded in 2021, the men’s program features home grown players, pre-professional, & collegiate players from all over the region and the world. Founded in 1990, Ambassadors is a servant-hearted global mission, working as one team through football, developing innovative strategies to mobilize the Church, so that through the Word of God, disciples are made in every nation. Ambassadors operates a 500+ member youth club in northeast Ohio as well and conducts camps and clinics nationwide. Over 20,000 people are ministered to weekly around the world through Ambassadors Football.

To learn more about Ambassadors, visit ambassadorsfootball.org

About Akron City FC

Akron City FC is a locally-owned member of USL League Two founded in 2022. USL League Two is the leader in pre-professional soccer in North America. The League holds a vital role as it continues to provide the elite platform for those pursuing professional careers domestically and internationally. Akron City FC continues to unite communities in the region through soccer by offering the highest level of competition and entertainment through the game, as well as building into the fabric of the community through service and utilization of home grown talent on and off the field. 

To learn more about Akron City FC, visit akroncityfc.com

Match Summary

In a scrappy, hard-fought battle of a match, Ambassadors FC Ohio drew Cleveland SC 1-1on match day three. While CSC had the upper hand of seven years seniority in the NPSL, AFC came into the match higher in the table on goal difference. With the long-standing rivalry between the two Ohio-based teams, excitement was simmering below the surface as the two faced off, sure to make history tonight.

This match saw the debut of three AFC players, all of whom had a big impact on the result of the match: Ben Mihalek, Gavin Hill, and Max Brown. Mihalek was an excellent addition to Ambassadors FC Ohio’s team of lockdown defenders, playing very clean, giving up no fouls, and making his physical presence known and felt.

Barely two minutes into the match, AFC front runner Randy Harris maneuvered his way into a breakaway in the visiting 18-yard box where he was clipped from behind by a Cleveland SC player who was awarded the match’s first of five yellow cards. This young player is no stranger to the home team. Former AFC player Uleto Fuentes was known for his speed, skill, and technicality, making him a formidable opponent for his former team and someone to be aware of on the pitch. 

The slippery conditions proved to be something both teams needed to adjust to, as opportunities and breakaways like that of AFC’s Harris in the fifth minute. With how quick the ball moved, the players needed to be just as fast if they were looking to make any threatening attack.  By the he eighth minute, Ambassador FC Ohio had won several different set pieces but were unable to capitalize on any. With as many attempts at the goal as they had, it was clear that AFC’s intensity was there from the start.

The AFC Ohio counter attack was dangerous all night long as they sat in a compact block. In just the thirteenth minute of the match, Harris won the ball in a breakaway, where he ripped a close shot straight at the CSC keeper. Only seconds after, a deflection off of the keeper was picked up by AFC midfielder Aidan Eck, who tapped the ball home to beat the remaining Cleveland SC defenders, finishing the rebound and putting Ambassadors FC Ohio in the lead.

A good portion of the half dominated by the AFC counter. But despite several opportunities coming a fraction away from success, Ambassadors FC Ohio was unable to finish any attempts. The later stages of the first stanza saw some cracks in the AFC block and a bit of chippiness as both sides fatigued seeing Cleveland SC gain yet another yellow card. 

Similar to Flower City Union last Saturday, Cleveland SC came out of the gates in the second half with a new fire, catching AFC on slips and simple mistakes. Despite this, Ambassadors FC Ohio did an excellent job of maintaining shape and structure. Eck was a truly dominant figure in the match for the all whites as a ball winner, covering ground in the middle of the park, and as an attacking threat on the ball and off the ball. Eck became a force to be reckoned with through the entirety of the match. 

After going in for a tackle in the 59th minute, Omar Najjar took on the third yellow card of the match to stop a CSC offensive attack before it could snowball into something out of control. Five minutes later, Cleveland SC found an opening outside the area and drove a ball past the dive of Gavin Hill to even out the score at 1-1.

Offsides was a frequent refrain in the match for both sides.. Just past the halfway mark in the second half, Ambassadors FC Ohio strung together perfect split passes which resulted in another goal, however a player was offsides nullifying goal and kept the score at 1-1. 

As the clock continued to run down, the scrappiness and fatigue of both teams picked up, showcasing the long-standing rivalry between the two teams who have competed only in friendlies prior to this evening. Similar to the first half, the second half consisted of countless fouls, and back and forth barbs between the teams. The frustrations of the away team became quite clear to all spectators in the final minutes of the match, as the Cleveland SC was assessed two cautions in the same stoppage directed at their staff and bench personnel.

The final two minutes of the match were spent mostly in the CSC half of the field with Ambassadors creating a number of half chances. Nevertheless, the match concluded as a 1-1 draw.

Ambassadors FC Ohio will now go on the road again this coming Saturday 5/31 to Lewiston, N.Y.  to battle new NPSL foe Niagara 1812 at 7:00 p.m. on the campus of Niagara University in Lewiston, N.Y.

Match Summary

After a physical, hard-fought battle, Ambassadors FC Ohio fell to Flower City Union 2-1 on the chilly spring evening in the home opener of their debut NPSL season. As the sun set on King Field in Pioneer Park at Malone University in Canton, Ohio, so did the possibility for a two-game win streak.

As the first half started, both teams came out of the gate strong, but one team began pulling ahead. AFC Ohio met the high pressure of Flower City with solid technique and combinations. Despite the cohesion of the home team, Flower City Union was able to hone in on the small mistakes and some misreads and use them to create buildups. While there was the very rare miscommunication from AFC, it was clear from the first whistle of the game that Ambassadors players were picking up on the tendencies of each other, furthering the team chemistry as one united front.

Early in the match, Amir Spratt was able to break away from the back line of FCU to have the uncommon opportunity to go one-on-one with the keeper outside of the box, but was turned away for the first of many Ambassadors corner kicks.

Just a few minutes later, Jordan Akins was able to beat Flower City defenders and break the lines with an excellently-placed cross to Diego Pinto, who tapped the ball in for a calm goal into the bottom back left corner. This finish by the young player was a clear testament to the skillful maturity Pinto brings to every match.

One of the key components of the success of the 1st half was the calmness and security of the AFC back line led by captain Omar Najjar. Jordan Akins was consistently solid in the tackle, giving the referees nothing to contest. Strategic runs down the flanks paired with lockdown defense made wingback Alex Depperschmidt a formidable threat to FCU early in the match; however, the explosiveness Flower City Union counterattack brought to the game was finally capitalized on. 

In a very eventful five minutes, FCU player Andrew O’Neil (77) received the first of three overall yellow cards in the match after attempting to head the ball out of Ambassadors goalkeeper Caydence Robinson’s hands. Less than a minute later, O’Neil was able to turn frustration into fire as he beat the AFC back line with his speed and technique, calmly chipping the ball to the back right post and past the reach of Robinson, tying up the game. Shortly after making his mark in the game, he was subbed out for injury.

The remainder of the half seemed to maintain a steady pace with sporadic bursts of energy by both sides. Though there were several more ambitious attempts by both teams, the half concluded with a score of 1-1.

Early during the second half, the FCU starting keep immediately went down after a distribution with an obvious non-contact injury and had to be replaced. Despite the change of keepers,  Flower City remained locked in on its intention of winning its second game. Every time the away team lost possession, they immediately stepped up their pressure to gain possession back. 

The precision of FCU was clearly on display with their second goal of the game in the 65th minute. The calm, composed volley by Dylan Rice from Haato Efune was a laser to the back of the Ambassadors net, creating a gap between the two teams and gaining the upper hand.

As Ambassadors tried to regain footing, composure, confidence, and quality, they played a bit rushed, shaken by their conceded goal. The frustration of AFC was seen by the elevated level of physicality they initiated, which was met with a similar mentality from the opposing team. This funk was short-lived as Ambassadors FC Ohio began recollecting themselves and played like the team the home fans know and love.

After solid defensive stands by both teams, and two Ambassadors shots that hit the woodwork, the game concluded in a 2-1 loss for the home team, and the first in their NPSL infancy.

“It’s a tough match because we know it could have been different with better finishing, but that doesn’t excuse some of the mistakes,” said AFC Technical Director and Head Coach Ryan Dean. “The season isn’t defined by one result, and we will need to come together. We will improve.”

With hopes of another win, Ambassadors FC Ohio will host long-time and local rival Cleveland Soccer Club next Wednesday, May 28, at 7:00 pm at Dr. David & Winnie King Field on the campus of Malone University in Canton, Ohio.

Match Summary

Despite the rainy, slippery conditions, Ambassadors FC Ohio hit the road in their debut in the NPSL to achieve a hard-fought 4:0 victory over Syracuse FC. Ambassadors was looking to start the season and their debut on a national platform off strong in the first half of the match, and that’s exactly what they did. 

After a dominating start to the match, Ambassadors FC dominated possession before truly falling into the rhythm. Multiple wins in duals, throw-ins, and corner kicks foreshadowed the outcome for the away team in their evening match in New York. The buildup from the backline to the offensive front proved to be a united, powerful force, making it evident that intensity was there from the start.

In just the ninth minute of the game, AFC Ohio wingback Jordan Akins served a brilliant ball to a streaking Diego Pinto who beat the keeper on the near post, setting the tone and a constant theme for the remaining 81 minutes early on. But this was only the first goal of many.

Just over eleven minutes later, an Ambassadors throw-in resulted in yet another split pass, with the forward Amir Spratt taking the shot and meeting nothing but net. Less than two minutes after his first NPSL career goal, Spratt gained possession through a breakaway and delivered his second goal with precision. Spratt extended his lead as the all-time leader in goal contributions in AFC Ohio history. As they continued to hold the majority of possession, AFC battled out against Syracuse for the remainder of the first half, holding their 3:0 lead.

As the second half commenced, Syracuse came out with a new energy and pressed high. That tactic was met with an increased intensity from Ambassadors. Although breakaways were nothing uncommon in this game, Spratt added flair and finesse to the final goal in the game. With his third goal, he beat two SFC defenders and the keeper in 1-v-1’s and slide tackles, furthering his hot streak and deepening the deficit of the home team. 

Diego Pinto tangles with and SFC defender after he opened the scoring for the AFC Ohio in the 9th minute en route to a 4:0 win

This early goal in the second half served as key to holding onto the momentum that AFC Ohio held throughout the remainder of the game. The rest of the match held fouls and highly contested plays, and despite an injury midway through the second half of the game to substitute centerback Asher Hart, Ambassadors continued to hold their concrete defense against Syracuse.

The fate of the match was sealed in the last five minutes as SFC nearly broke the away team’s repeated success as they skillfully maneuvered towards the goal. Their close call and final shot was shut down by Ambassadors’ defender Omar Najjar with an incredible clearance off the goal line, preserving the team’s and goalkeeper Caydence Robinson’s first NPSL clean sheet and 4:0 victory.

While the team is playing to win, they also have a greater purpose. Ambassadors Football Club Ohio’s Director of Men’s Football Operations Bob Dean provided insight, explaining how, “We are so blessed to be representing this ministry and all of our ministry partners around the world. And, to open up our first season on a national platform with an outstanding clean sheet is very humbling.”

This mission serves as a huge motivator for the organization, fueling the team like the hat trick-achieving Amir Spratt. “He doesn’t score goals, goals just find him,” said AFC Ohio Head Coach Ryan Dean. “He earns it with his effort.”

The efforts of the team in Saturday’s match are a testament to the level they are now competing at, one higher than they ever have before, leaving a wake in the NPSL and foreshadowing the season ahead. “Not only do we belong here, but we can have success as well,” said Ryan Dean.

Continuing the energy, intensity, and effort will be the biggest motivators in preparation for AFC Ohio’s first home game in the NPSL. They will host Flower City Union out of Rochester next Saturday, May 24 at 7:00 p.m. at Dr. David & Winnie King Field on the campus of Malone University in Canton, Ohio.

The 2025 season for both the NPSL and OVPL starts in just a few weeks! We can’t wait to see you this season! If you would like to purchase tickets, you can go here.

Ambassadors Football Mission Statement:

To communicate the Good News of Jesus to all people through football.

For Ambassadors FC Ohio, our connection to the Global mission means we will be a front-facing arm & mechanism of the ministry to communicate the Gospel to all who are suppliers and consumers of our operations in every way

To see transformation through football ministry in every country and culture.

For Ambassadors FC Ohio, we want to see transformation start with our own players and staff, within the communities we serve, and prayerfully throughout the football culture we are a part of.

🚨 Our 2025 u23 schedule in the OVPL 🚨

Our u23 team will be competing this summer in the Ohio Valley Premier League (OVPL) where we have fielded a team since the 2022 season.

See you at the pitch 👀

Reintroducing our home field for the 2025 season… King Field on the beautiful campus of Malone University.

We also get to play on the best playing surface in the business. 😎🌱

🚨 2025 NPSL Schedule 🚨

Various season ticket packages, and individual match tickets are for sale now.

We can’t wait to see you this season on the campus of Malone University’s Dr. David & Winnie King Field at Pioneer Park!

Come enjoy the highest level of pre-professional soccer in northeast Ohio in a fun, family-friendly environment this summer.