Akron City FC loses to FC Buffalo, 2-1: Rematch set for June 12

Last Saturday, Akron City FC traveled to Buffalo (FCB) for their fifth NPSL game of the 2022 season. Unfortunately, ACFC lost a tough battle, 2-1. A goal in the 77th minute by substitute Umechi Akuazaoku turned a 1-1 game into what would be the game winner for Buffalo.

With the loss, Akron now sits behind Buffalo in 4th place. Akron hosts this same Buffalo team tomorrow, at St Vincent-St Mary’s Green Street Stadium.  The match is scheduled to start at 3:30 pm.

(Starting 11 for Akron)

With the loss to Cleveland behind them, a good week of practice had Kia Zolgharnain’s men ready for the bus ride to New York. Unfortunately like the Cleveland game, the first goal came early in the game.

Akron took the kickoff, but 1 minute and 15 seconds in, Buffalo’s Ali Alomari had the ball at the top of the box, spun around and slotted a quick kick past a diving ACFC goalie Cam Victor for the first goal. What looked like a good start for the first minute quickly evaporated in the warm, New York afternoon sun.

In the fourth minute, FCB almost had a second. ACFC lost the ball in the middle of the field and Buffalo quickly took it down. A cross into the top of the box was settled and one timed just wide and right for a corner. Akron cleared it without any problem. Another corner about a minute later amounted to an ACFC goal kick.

Akron was working on a high press early in the game, hoping for a chance to equalize. But a yellow caution was given to Akron’s defender, Neil Gillies in the 7th minute just a few yards from the top of the box. The free kick was harmlessly handled by Victor.

The game remained tied until the second half. The beginning of the second half saw Akron begin to dominate possession. The play at times was physical and in the 51st minute Akron struck for a goal. After a steal by Jordan Seaman, five quick passes brought the ball to Jayden who quickly out ran the defense on the left side and made a nice cross in that was parried away. But the ball was grabbed on the left by Akron and a short pass to George saw him weave through the defense. His shot was blocked and in the scramble for the ball, Chewe came up with it.  Taking a nice touch with the right fo0t for space he sent a dart to the lower left of the goal, crossing up Queen in the process.

Now tied, the play was spirited until the 77th and the winner by Buffalo’s and St Bonaventure player Akuazaoku. But Akron was not finished! Akron won a corner in the 84th minute and with the ball being cleared to Seaman, he saw his kick sail wide right. More pressure by ACFC saw them win a free kick in the 86th minute. Seamand again dropped a beauty that was headed down by substitute El Hadji Diallo only to be just cleared by Buffalo.

Another corner for Akron a minute later was harmlessly sent out of the box and Buffalo was able to ride out the final time for the win.

Quickly after, Akron took the ball down and Levi Stevens looked to have been tripped near the box, but the ref said to play on. After stealing the ball back, Akron was awarded their first corner at 10:07 in the first. Sam George took the corner, and his left-footed cross met the head of an FCB defender and was cleared away.

Akron was moving the ball around well and found some holes in the midfield until a poor pass almost led to another FCB goal, but the shot was wide left of Victor. But Akron kept pressing forward.

Chewe Mukuka found some space in the 21st minute and a nice cross-field pass to Jaden Wright saw the UA forward with a strong shot that skipped off the turf and was just pushed away by FCB goalie, Andreas Queen. Another good chance for Akron happened about 2 minutes later with a nice build up but Buffalo cleared the attempt.

Come out Sunday for fun and hopefully a victory over this same FC Buffalo team. Akron City FC will be selecting two youngsters for the halftime CrossBar Challenge presented by @CircleKStores. Kids under 12 try to arrive early for a chance to walk up with the starting eleven! But as always, if you cannot make it, you can join the live action thanks to elevensports.com. The playoff push really starts tomorrow! Here we go!