FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale United FC (9-6-6, 33 PTS) drew its matchup with DC Power FC (3-11-7, 16 PTS) on Saturday evening, 1-1. Two-time USL Super League Player of the Month Jasmine Hamid scored her 8th goal of the season in Saturday’s matchup, and the draw marks the fourth in the last eight matches for FTL UTD. With seven matches remaining in the regular season, Fort Lauderdale United has a battle ahead of it as the Super League playoff race heats up.
Fort Lauderdale United FC returns to the pitch on Saturday, April 19 in a high-stakes road matchup with top-seeded Dallas Trinity FC. The clubs have split the season series up to this point, as Dallas took the initial hard-fought, physical matchup on November 2 in Texas (1-0). A pair of goals from Hamid and McCain helped Fort Lauderdale United earn a 2-0 home victory in the second meeting on December 1 to even the series. With an eye on continuing their unbeaten run, Fort Lauderdale will look to build on this result as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSvmK9IOB7A
Fort Lauderdale opened up the match in a new formation, opting to switch to a three-back formation while adding midfielder Felicia Knox and forward Jorian Baucom into the starting lineup. The club got off to a fast start, dominating possession with its new look midfield as it created chances with ease in the first 10 minutes of the match.
Former DC Power FC player Jorian Baucom nearly gave FTL UTD the lead in the 11th minute after an incredible solo run where she beat a pair of Power defenders before her rocketing shot just missed the right side of the goal. Baucom was active early, almost giving FTL UTD the lead in the 17th minute on a volleying shot that grazed the left side of the net.
Knox was pulling the strings in the midfield for Fort Lauderdale, and had a shot saved in the 18th minute by the DC keeper. FTL UTD kept its foot on the gas, as Hamid beat the DC keeper on a chip shot before the ball hit the woodwork in the 31st minute. Goalkeeper Cosette Morché made an impressive save in the 44th minute, and the two teams went into the break tied at 0-0.
In the 46th minute, a goal from point blank range gave DC Power FC the lead. It didn’t take long for FTL UTD to fight back, as the club earned a corner kick in the 50th minute. Knox played a high-arcing ball, and the in-form Hamid flew in and fired a header into the back of the net to equalize the match for FTL UTD. The Fort Lauderdale squad continued to press the DC defense, as Hamid nearly gave the club the lead in the 57th minute, but her shot was saved.
The first reinforcement of the match came in the 64th minute, as Kiara Locklear came onto the pitch for Darya Rajaee. Locklear’s energy and pressure helped the FTL UTD club earn multiple corner kicks as the second half went on. Morché kept the match tied at 0-0 after an incredible save from point blank range inside the box in the 69th minute.
Hamid kept the pressure on, putting a shot on frame in the 75th that was eventually saved. The final pair of substitutes made their way onto the pitch in the 79th minute, with Tati Fung and Nia Christopher subbing on for Taylor Smith and Baucom. Christopher made an instant impact, firing a shot from inside the box that deflected off the woodwork in the 83rd minute. In stoppage time, Hamid and Christopher each recorded shots on target, but the clubs ended in a 1-1 tie after 90 minutes.
Back in Action
FTL UTD will return to the pitch on Saturday, April 19 for a road matchup with 2nd-seeded Dallas Trinity FC. The teams have met twice this season, with each club earning a tough, hard-fought win at home in the first half of the campaign.
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 26 against top-seeded Carolina Ascent FC for First Responders and Safety Awareness Night. The clubs have met three times this season, with Carolina taking the first matchup (2-1 → Away) on September 6 before FTL UTD took the other pair of matchups on December 14 (2-0 → Home) and March 2 (2-1 → Away).