Cleveland State and Canisius Battle to Entertaining 2-2 Draw
Gabriel Leslie's Brace Rescues Point for Canisius in Four-Goal Thriller
CLEVELAND, OH – In a pulsating encounter at Cleveland State, Canisius fought back twice to earn a 2-2 draw, with Gabriel Leslie scoring both goals for the visitors in an action-packed match that featured 185 recorded plays and kept fans on the edge of their seats throughout.
Cleveland State struck early to take control of the match. In the 53rd minute of the first half, Peleg Armendariz rose highest to meet a cross and powered a header into the top right corner, giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead. The home crowd erupted as Cleveland State looked to build on their advantage.
The Vikings' dominance continued as they doubled their lead just four minutes later. Matteo Correia found space in the box and fired a low right-footed shot into the bottom corner at the 49:04 mark, putting Cleveland State firmly in control at 2-0.
However, Canisius showed remarkable resilience and refused to be overwhelmed. Their persistence paid off in the 35th minute when Gabriel Leslie pulled one back for the Golden Griffins, drilling a right-footed shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-1 and give his team a lifeline going into halftime.
The halftime break saw Canisius make four substitutions, bringing on Juansebastian Quintero, Kiryl Dubins, Josh Miller, and Kevin Villacorta as they looked to change the momentum of the match.
The tactical adjustments paid immediate dividends. Just over three minutes into the second half, Gabriel Leslie struck again to complete his brace. In the 20th minute of the second period, Leslie found the net with another clinical right-footed finish into the bottom corner, leveling the match at 2-2 and setting up a thrilling finale.
The match statistics reflected Cleveland State's overall dominance, with the Vikings earning five corners to Canisius's two and attempting five shots compared to just one from the visitors. However, Canisius goalkeeper Dominic Dominguez was the hero for his team, making five crucial saves including vital stops at 35:03, 31:03, and 54:05 in the second half to preserve the draw.
The physical nature of the contest was evident with 17 fouls committed between the two teams. The referee was forced to show four yellow cards throughout the match. Canisius's Edson Flores was the first to be cautioned in the first half, followed by teammate Juansebastian Quintero in the second period. Cleveland State's Peleg Armendariz received a yellow card at 27:02 in the second half, while Canisius's Glodie Mata was the final player booked at 54:05.
Both teams made extensive use of their benches, with a total of 17 substitutions made throughout the match. Canisius was particularly active with changes, making 14 substitutions including bringing on Gabriel Leslie early in the first half at 05:00, a move that proved decisive as he went on to score both goals.
Cleveland State created several dangerous moments, with Josip Rimac hitting the woodwork at 42:04 in the first half, while Tom Mertz and Matteo Correia both had shots blocked in quick succession just before halftime. In the second half, Armendariz had two attempts sail over the bar, including one at 55:05 that could have restored the Vikings' lead.
The match also featured a VAR review at 10:01 in the second half when Cleveland State appealed for a penalty, but the review resulted in no action being taken, much to the frustration of the home supporters.
The closing stages saw both teams push for a winner. Canisius had a shot blocked from Romero Nicolazzo at 03:00 and earned two late corners at 47:04 and 03:00 as they pressed for a winning goal. Cleveland State's best chance came when Dominic Dominguez made a crucial double save at 14:01, first denying a shot from a corner before immediately saving the follow-up attempt.
The draw leaves both teams with mixed emotions. Cleveland State will rue missed opportunities after taking a commanding 2-0 lead, while Canisius will be delighted with their character and fighting spirit to twice come from behind and earn a valuable point on the road.
Gabriel Leslie's performance will be remembered as the standout individual display, with his two goals ensuring Canisius avoided defeat. For Cleveland State, despite the disappointment of not holding onto their lead, they can take positives from their overall play and the quality of their first-half goals from Armendariz and Correia.
The result sets up both teams well for their upcoming fixtures, with confidence gained from an entertaining encounter that showcased the competitive nature and quality of college soccer.
Match Statistics: - Final Score: Cleveland State 2-2 Canisius - Goals: Armendariz 53', Correia 49' (Cleveland State); Leslie 35', 20' (Canisius) - Yellow Cards: Flores, Quintero, Mata (Canisius); Armendariz (Cleveland State) - Corners: Cleveland State 5-2 Canisius - Saves: Dominguez 5 (Canisius), Cleveland State 1 - Total Match Events: 185 plays recorded