FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Ahead of kickoff, Fort Lauderdale United FC (3-5-2, 11 PTS) manager Tyrone Mears has named his starting XI for Sunday’s matchup with Dallas Trinity FC (5-1-5, 20 PTS). Mears has made a plethora of changes from last weekend’s match, reverting back to a four-back formation from earlier in the season. The gaffer also made four changes to his lineup, inserting goalkeeper Makenna Gottschalk, midfielder Tati Fung and defenders Sabrina McNeill and Adrienne Jordan into the starting XI for goalkeeper Heather Hinz, defender Cameron Brooks, midfielder Darya Rajaee and forward Erica Gomes.
Sunday’s duel is the second meeting of the season for the two teams, as the two met in Spokane on August 17. A goal from Addie McCain helped the club earn a point in a 1-1 draw in the inaugural match in club history. FTL has lost four of its last five matches, and the club will be looking to earn points and make its way back up the standings on Sunday night before the break arrives.
Gottschalk returns to the net after being out of the lineup for the last two matches. The reliable, dominant center back duo of Celia Gaynor and Laveni Vaka retain their spots in the lineup and will be heavily relied upon. Right back Jordan makes her way back into the XI for her first start since October 6, and the explosive McNeill takes over the left back spot. The midfield trio consists of Taylor Smith, Felicia Knox and the creative Fung in the attacking midfield role for her first start of the season. The electric wing duo of Jasmine Hamid and Sh’Nia Gordon have been mainstays in the FTL lineup, and will look to make an impact on the wings. The lone striker up top is Addie McCain, who makes her return to forward after starting the last few matches in the midfield.
After going with the 3-4-3 shape for the last two matches, Mears has opted to return to the 4-3-3 formation for Sunday’s duel. With the club dropping four of its last five matches, a formation change to what was effective early in the season could be what FTL needs to get back on track. Allowing the USL Super League leading scorer in McCain to return to striker should help reignite an offense that has slowed down as of late. Moving Fung, who has been electric as a substitute, into the starting XI will give her a chance to make an extended impact in the attacking third. The attacking prowess of McNeill should help the left side dominate down the wing and help wear down the Dallas defense. The change to a 4-3-3 should allow the club to attack at a higher rate with its most dynamic players in the positions where they can impact the match the most.
FTL UTD XI: GK Gottschalk, DF McNeill, DF Vaka, DF Gaynor, DF Jordan, MF Smith, MF Knox, MF Fung, FW Hamid, FW Gordon, FW McCain
SUBS: DF Klein, DF Brooks, MF Rajaee, FW Henderson, FW Christopher, FW Gomes, FW Hermannsdōttir