FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – As the USL Super League Playoff push heats up, Fort Lauderdale United FC (9-6-5, 32 PTS) is set to host DC Power FC (3-11-6, 15 PTS) on Saturday evening, aiming to get back on track. The teams have met twice this season, splitting the series with each club winning on the road. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Beyond Bancard Field, and with FTL UTD eager to settle the score, Saturday’s matchup has all the makings of an exciting 90 minutes.
Coming off its first loss since November 23 (a span of 9 games), Fort Lauderdale United FC enters Saturday’s home matchup with DC Power FC determined to bounce back. Last week’s match marked the first time this powerful FTL UTD squad has been held scoreless in back-to-back matches, and Head Coach Tyrone Mears knows the team can and will be better after experiencing adversity.
“Tonight (last match) was not good enough, and we have to be honest about that. But every match presents an opportunity to learn and grow,” said Mears. “Our focus now is fully on preparing for DC — we’ll take the lessons from tonight, make the necessary adjustments, and ensure we’re ready to respond with the mentality and quality we expect from ourselves.”
The club is led by a dynamic attack that consists of the Super League joint-leading scorer Addie McCain (9 goals), two-time Player of the Month Jasmine Hamid (7G, 2A), the dangerous Kiara Locklear (3G, 4A) and the electric Sh’Nia Gordon (3G, 2A), who is coming off her first Team of the Month selection. Defensively, the club is led by center-back Laurel Ansbrow and goalkeeper Cosette Morché – a pair of March Team of the Month selections. Ansbrow has been a rock in the FTL UTD backline since joining, earning consecutive TOTM nods, while Morché has been a consistent brick wall for a squad that has conceded the 2nd-least goals in the Super League (20). With the playoffs fast approaching, Saturday’s matchup with DC could have a major impact on the top of the table.
At the tail-end of a stretch that sees DC Power FC play three games in just 10 days, the club enters Saturday’s matchup following a road loss to Carolina Ascent on Tuesday evening. DC’s leading scorer is Gianna Gourley (3), who began the season on the FTL UTD squad before being traded for forward Jorian Baucom during the winter break. The club’s attack centers around playing the ball into the box from the wing, as Katelyn Duong (4th – 75) and Susanna Friedrichs (9th – 53) rank inside the top-10 in the league in Crosses. On the defensive side, goalkeeper Morgan Aquino (40) is 4th in the Super League in Saves. As a club, DC Power has scored the least amount of goals (14) and conceded the 2nd-most goals in the league (29). With FTL’s potent attack awaiting them, DC’s defense will face a tough challenge and certainly have its hands full.
Matchup History
The two clubs met for the first time on September 13 in DC. A pair of first-half goals from McCain (‘9) and Hamid (‘39) helped lead Fort Lauderdale United to its historic first win in club history.
The second meeting took place on November 23, but this time, the teams met in Fort Lauderdale. The game was destined for a draw, but a 93rd-minute, stoppage time goal from DC Power FC resulted in a loss for FTL UTD.
Where to Watch
The match is set to kick-off at 7:30 p.m. and it will be streamed on the Peacock app and available for local viewing on FanDuel Sports Network. The direct link to watch the match can be found here.
Tickets
Season ticket packages for all home matches, as well as single-game tickets can be purchased here. FTL UTD’s next home match is scheduled for Saturday, April 12 against DC Power FC for Pride Night. The clubs first met on September 13 in what ended up being the historic first victory in FTL UTD club history (2-0), courtesy of goals from McCain and Hamid. In the second matchup on November 23, DC Power secured a late win with a decisive goal in the closing minutes.