BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Fort Lauderdale United FC (3-3-1) dropped its road matchup with Brooklyn FC (5-3-2) on Sunday evening, falling 3-1 in the Big Apple. Midfielder Felicia Knox scored FTL UTD’s lone goal on an incredible free kick, notching the midfield maestro’s first goal of the season. Fort Lauderdale and Brooklyn have now split its first two matchups of the season, with FTL winning its historic home opener against the Brooklyn side earlier this month.
Despite dropping its last two matches, Fort Lauderdale still has joint possession of third place, with Dallas Trinity FC, in the USL Super League Standings through 7 matches, having earned 10 points. FTL UTD will look to move up the table on Saturday, Nov. 2, when it travels to take on the team it shares third place in the standings with: Dallas Trinity FC.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71FCrSOQiqk&t=1s
FTL UTD’s defense was tested early, but Makenna Gottschalk kept the game tied at 0-0 after a trio of impressive saves in the bottom left corner in the 3rd, 6th and 16th minutes, respectively. Brooklyn took the lead in the 28th minute on an outside the box shot from a corner kick. The lead was doubled in the 31st minute after a Gottschalk save was deflected to the foot of a Brooklyn forward inside the box.
The attack came to life in the 39th minute for Fort Lauderdale, when Taylor Smith played a pass for Addie McCain. The forward sent a looping pass to the right wing for Sh’Nia Gordon, who made an impressive touch on the ball as it came down, cut in and took a shot that was saved by the Brooklyn keeper. Gottschalk continued to make save after save as the half ended with FTL UTD trailing 2-0.
Mears made a pair of subs going into the second half, inserting midfielder Knox and forward Nia Christopher into the game for Sheyenne Allen and Jasmine Hamid. After a through ball left her one-on-one with a Brooklyn attacker, Gottschalk saved another shot in the 48th minute and kept the deficit at 2.
In the 52nd minute, McCain played a perfect through pass into the Brooklyn half for Gordon, who took on her defender, cut inside and took a shot that was saved by the Brooklyn keeper. FTL UTD’s deficit was extended to 3-0 after a deflected Brooklyn shot found the back of the net in the 57th minute. More reinforcements were on the way for FTL UTD as midfielder Anele Komani and forward Erica Gomes entered the game for Gordon and Darya Rajaee in the 65th minute.
Knox was fouled just in front of the middle of the field after making a defender miss. Knox lined up to take the free kick, sent a high-arcing shot into the box and got it past the Brooklyn keeper in the 71st minute to lower the deficit to 3-1. The goal marks Knox’s first of the season.
The final wave of substitutions for Fort Lauderdale came in the 77th minute with midfielder Anna Henderson and forward Gianna Gourley making their way on the field for Sabrina McNeill and McCain. Komani drew a foul as she took the ball into Brooklyn territory, and Knox lined up over the ball to take another free kick. The goal scorer played a perfect ball towards the left side of the box where it fell to the foot of Cameron Brooks, who’s shot was saved in the bottom left corner.
Gottschalk saved her 8th shot of the night in the 93rd minute, and despite a late push, Fort Lauderdale United FC fell 3-1 to Brooklyn FC on the road.
Back in Action
Fort Lauderdale United FC returns to the pitch on Saturday, Nov. 2 for a road matchup with Dallas Trinity FC in the Lone Star state. Kick-off is set for 7:00 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:
BKN: Kroeger, 28
BKN: Scheriff, 31
BKN: Georgie, 57
FTL: Knox, 71