Ambassadors FC Ohio picked up a 2-0 away victory over Rochester NY FC Academy in NPSL action on Saturday, benefiting from a pair of own goals by the hosts. A. Spratt put through his own net in the 12th minute, and N. Werthmuller doubled Ambassadors' advantage with another own goal in the 38th minute, leaving Rochester chasing the game before halftime had even arrived.
The match had an edgy start. Ambassadors' K. Sarkodie was booked inside five minutes, setting a combative tone early on. Rochester then gifted the visitors the opener when Spratt's intervention directed the ball past his own goalkeeper. The hosts struggled to respond, and Werthmuller's unfortunate own goal shortly before the break gave Ambassadors a commanding two-goal cushion heading into the interval.
N. Baumslag picked up a yellow card for Ambassadors just before halftime, but the visitors were content to manage the game in the second half. Rochester pushed for a way back into the contest but never seriously threatened to reduce the deficit. Frustration crept in late — B. McCauley was cautioned in the 82nd minute, and Werthmuller, already culpable for the second own goal, collected a yellow card in stoppage time to cap a day he will want to forget quickly.
Ambassadors saw the match out comfortably, rarely troubled after establishing their first-half lead. The result gives Ambassadors FC Ohio a valuable three points on the road, while Rochester NY FC Academy will need to regroup fast after an afternoon undone entirely by self-inflicted errors.