FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In a thrilling match on Saturday evening, Fort Lauderdale United FC (FTL UTD) fell to Lexington SC, 1-2. Despite the loss, forward Addie McCain added to her league-leading goal tally, bringing her scoring total to 6 goals.
The loss ended a three-match winning streak for FTL UTD, who will look to get back in the win column on the road at Brooklyn FC on Sunday, Oct. 27.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: https://youtu.be/Lc3Ysq0rPxE
FTL UTD was on the attack early, spearheaded by the attacking prowess of Felicia Knox, who set up McCain and Sh’Nia Gordon for shots early on in the match. Fort Lauderdale’s attack came close to taking an advantage at the foot of Jasmine Hamid, who had a pair of shots saved.
The center back duo of Laveni Vaka and Celia Gaynor were instrumental to the first half success. The backs were key in creating build up play from the back line and each made clearances to keep the lead.
In the 22nd minute, Knox played a corner that was nearly an Olimpico but the Lexington keeper got a hand on it, pushing the ball away. The attacking prowess of McCain was right there for the deflection and emphatically headed the ball into the back of the net, scoring her sixth goal of the season.
Gordon stayed on the attack, routinely getting behind the Lexington defense and midfielder Anele Komani was everywhere. Lexington tied the game in the 37th minute, and the teams would go into the halftime break tied 1-1.
FTL picked up right where it left off when the second half opened and itt was a clear emphasis to attack the right side with Gordon. The right wing found McCain just outside the box, who took a knuckling shot that got saved in the bottom right corner in the 51st minute. Komani nearly regained the lead for FTL, but her shot in the 53rd minute just nearly missed the bottom left corner of the net.
Fort Lauderdale’s first substitution of the game came in the 53rd minute with midfielder Taylor Smith entering the match for Knox, and Smith made an instant impact in the final third. Hamid showed her skillfulness in the 66th minute when she took on a defender one-on-one, flicked the ball over the defender’s head and played a pass to McCain, who just nearly missed the goal. Fort Lauderdale was attacking as a team as the second half waned, and Darya Rajaee took a hard shot from outside the box that ended up being blocked by the last line of the Lexington defense.
Lexington’s counter attack broke down the FTL UTD defense in the 71st minute and took the lead with just 19 minutes remaining. Now trailing, the aggressive Fort Lauderdale offense pressed even harder. Gordon had a sh
Gordon shot saved 74
Reinforcements entered the game in the 76th minute for FTL UTD, with Sheyenne Allen and Nia Christopher entering the game for Gordon and Hamid. Allen impacted the game immediately on the left side, playing a cross into the box that just nearly missed the foot of McCain. More fresh legs entered the match in the 84th minute with a pair of season debuts for Tatiana Fung and Erica Gomes making their way on the field for Komani and Delaney Lindahl.
As time wound down, Fung and Vaka routinely placed the ball into the box. In the 89th minute, a spectacular display of individual quality from Christopher helped get Gomes an uncontested shot inside the box, which was saved in the bottom right corner. Knowing that it was most likely the team’s last attack, McCain played a long ball from the Lexington half for Gomes, who ran the ball down. The Lexington keeper came out of the box, Gomes made her miss, took the shot, but a Lexington defender cleared the would-be tying goal off the line in the 92nd minute.
The final three minutes of stoppage time included multiple crosses, but despite the late push, Fort Lauderdale United FC fell to Lexington SC, 2-1.
Back in Action
Fort Lauderdale United FC will return to the pitch on Sunday, Oct. 27 when it travels to take on Brooklyn FC. Kick-off is set for 2:00 p.m. EST and the match will be streamed on Peacock.
Tickets
Season ticket packages for all home matches, as well as single-game tickets can be purchased here. FTL UTD will return home on Saturday, Nov. 9 when it welcomes in-state opponent Tampa Bay into South Florida. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST.
Scoring Summary:
FTL: McCain, 22
LSC: Parsons, 37
LSC: Parsons, 71