by Per LC Media
LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio — The evening began with the sound of bagpipes echoing through the streets as the 87th Pipe Band led supporters from Cameo Pizza to Forefront Field. By kickoff, those pipes had been completely drowned out by the roar of nearly 1,700 Lorain County fans ready for the biggest rivalry match of the season.
When the final whistle sounded, it was the hometown side celebrating as Lorain County Leviathan FC defeated the Cleveland Force 3-1 in front of one of the largest crowds in club history.
The Leviathan controlled the match from start to finish, dominating possession, moving the ball with confidence, and forcing Cleveland to rely largely on counterattacks. While the Force generated a handful of chances, they were only able to convert once against the Leviathan defense.
The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when Man of the Match Dakota Jonke unleashed a stunning strike from approximately 25 yards out that left the Cleveland goalkeeper with no chance and sent the home crowd into celebration.
The lead lasted just six minutes. In the 25th minute, Cleveland’s Malvin Glablah capitalized on a moment of confusion along the Leviathan back line and slipped a shot past goalkeeper Zoltan Nagy to level the match at 1-1.
Lorain County responded with wave after wave of pressure before halftime but was unable to find a second goal.
The deadlock did not last long after the break.
Just one minute into the second half, the Leviathan earned a penalty kick after a handball in the box. Team captain Marco Valentic stepped forward and calmly buried the penalty to restore the Leviathan advantage at 2-1.
Only nine minutes later, Jonke struck again. A relentless pressing effort forced a Cleveland defensive mistake, allowing Jonke to break free one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The forward made no mistake, finishing clinically to give Lorain County a commanding 3-1 lead.
The scoreline could have been even larger. The Leviathan continued to pour forward throughout the second half, creating chance after chance while pinning Cleveland deep in their own half. Credit goes to the Force goalkeeper and defense, who withstood relentless pressure to keep the deficit from growing.
“This was the atmosphere we dreamed about when we started building this club,” said Leviathan FC owner Blake New. “The supporters were incredible from the march to the stadium through the final whistle. Our players responded with a complete performance against a quality rival. Tonight wasn’t just a win for the team—it was a win for Lorain County.”
The victory moves the Leviathan into the heart of the division title race as the season approaches the one-third mark.
The stakes only get bigger from here.
This Saturday night, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds visit Lorain County in a showdown that will determine who sits atop the division standings. With first place on the line and momentum building, another massive crowd is expected at Forefront Field as the Leviathan look to continue their climb.
Tickets are available now, and supporters are encouraged to arrive early as Lorain County prepares for another pivotal night of soccer.
