FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale United FC (11-8-9, 42 PTS) drew its matchup with Spokane Zephyr FC (11-8-9, 42 PTS) on Saturday evening, 1-1, in its final regular season match of the inaugural USL Super League season. Forward Sh’nia Gordon scored her fifth goal of the season to secure a point in the crucial, physical draw on an assist from defender Cameron Brooks. With the result, Fort Lauderdale United ended its regular season on a four-match points streak (2W, 2D) and clinched a Super League Playoff spot in the first season in club history. The club will look to carry that momentum into next Sunday’s playoff duel with top-seeded Carolina Ascent FC, a team it has already defeated twice this season.
Fort Lauderdale United returns to the pitch on Sunday, June 8, for its first-ever playoff matchup, taking on top-seeded Carolina Ascent FC. The season series between the two sides has been evenly split, with each team claiming two wins across four meetings. Their first encounter came on September 6 in Carolina in just the second match in club history for both teams. Jasmine Hamid scored late, but FTL UTD fell 2-1. In the rematch on December 14 at Beyond Bancard Field, Fort Lauderdale bounced back with a 2-1 win, powered by a brace from Kiara Locklear. The third meeting saw FTL go on the road again and come away with a 2-0 victory, courtesy of goals from Hamid and Locklear. In their fourth and final regular season clash, held in Fort Lauderdale, Hamid and Addie McCain both found the net, but Carolina earned 5-2 win to even the series.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v24f0cQHICY
Fort Lauderdale came out aggressively from the opening whistle, and their early pressure paid off in the 8th minute. A pinpoint pass from Brooks found Gordon inside the Spokane box. Gordon took a smooth touch, created space with a sharp move and fired a shot that deflected off the back post and into the net, giving FTL UTD a quick and much-needed 1-0 lead. Just two minutes later, Spokane equalized. Despite the early equalizer, goalkeeper Cosette Morché was dominant as the first half went on, making a trio of key saves in the 13th, 32nd and 36th minutes to help the club maintain the 1-1 scoreline at the break.
Heading into the second half, the stakes were clear: with the result of the Dallas Trinity FC vs. Carolina Ascent match finalized, a draw would be enough to send Fort Lauderdale United into the postseason, while Spokane needed a win to clinch a berth. With Sheyenne Allen carrying a first-half yellow card, Head Coach Tyrone Mears made his first change by bringing on forward Jorian Baucom. Morché continued her standout performance, coming up with two key saves in the 53rd and 66th minutes to preserve the 1-1 scoreline and keep Fort Lauderdale in playoff position.
Mears made three more changes in the second half, bringing on midfielders Darya Rajaee and Anele Komani for Taylor Smith and Tati Fung (68th), as well as Hamid for Julia Grosso (77th). The match remained deadlocked at 1-1 as it reached the 90-minute mark, and with four minutes of stoppage time added, Spokane knew it needed a victory to qualify for the postseason. In the 92nd minute, Morché faced a one-on-one with potential Player of the Year Emina Ekic. Rising to the moment, she charged off her line and delivered a season-defining sliding save in the final chance of the match. After 94 tense minutes, Fort Lauderdale United FC earned a 1-1 draw with Spokane Zephyr FC and clinched their spot in the postseason.
Scoring Summary
FTL: Gordon, ‘8
SPK: Cook, ’10
Back in Action
Fort Lauderdale United will return to the pitch on Sunday, June 8 for a road playoff matchup with top-seeded Carolina Ascent FC. The clubs have met on four occasions this season, with the teams maintaining a pure split in the season series with a pair of wins a piece. With everything on the line, the fifth and final meeting between these two teams will be decisive.
Tickets
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