FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale United FC (5-5-2, 17 PTS) won its matchup with Spokane Zephyr FC (2-5-6, 12 PTS) on Saturday evening, 2-1. Goals from Addie McCain and Sheyenne Allen helped FTL UTD earn its second consecutive win, pushing the club to 4th in the USL Super League standings with just one match remaining before the break. With the win, Fort Lauderdale has now won back-to-back matches after going five consecutive matches without a victory, and will look to finish the first-half of the season with a third-straight victory.
Fort Lauderdale has one more match on its schedule before the break, with the club set to take on Carolina Ascent FC (5-2-6, 21 PTS) at Beyond Bancard Field on Saturday, Dec. 14. The clubs will be meeting for the second time in 2024, as Carolina earned a 2-1 victory in the second match of the season on September 6. With a win, FTL would tie its longest win-streak of the season (3), as it won a trio of matches in a row against DC Power (9/13), Lexington SC (9/22) and Brooklyn FC (10/6) earlier in the year.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
The match got off to a fast start, with Spokane applying constant pressure on the Fort Lauderdale side. The FTL defense repeatedly played the ball back to goalkeeper Makenna Gottschalk, who was living on the edge with a few dangerous, but calculated passes to beat the Spokane press. Spokane nearly took the lead on a corner kick in the 7th minute, but Sh’Nia Gordon cleared the would-be goal off of the line.
Fort Lauderdale jumped out to an early 1-0 lead for the second match in a row after Jasmine Hamid dribbled down the left side and beat a pair of Spokane defenders. The winger cut inside and played the ball across the box for McCain, who took a touch and fired the ball into the bottom right corner in the 9th minute. One of the most dangerous connections in the USL, Hamid has now assisted McCain back-to-back matches.
The Spokane attack pressed harder as the first half went on, but the stalwart Fort Lauderdale defense had an answer for everything the opposition attempted. Midfielder Tati Fung began to pull the strings in the attacking third for FTL, setting up Sh’Nia Gordon down the wing on numerous occasions. Fung nearly gave Fort Lauderdale a 2-0 cushion in the 30th minute on a shot from outside the box, but the shot was saved by the Spokane keeper.
There was a clear shift in tactics from manager Tyrone Mears’ squad in the first half, as the emphasis was on retaining possession until the right pass was available. Around the 30th minute, Hamid and Gordon switched sides on the wing, and they began to dominate the Spokane defense as the halftime whistle approached.
Gordon continued to show her quality on the left side, routinely beating Spokane defenders and crossing the ball into the box. Left back Sabrina McNeill and Gordon began to show their chemistry and threatened the Spokane defense on a number of occasions down the stretch. Despite a few chances to extend the lead down the line, FTL went into the halftime break leading Spokane 1-0.
FTL applied pressure to open the second half, with Fung forcing a giveaway and just narrowly missed the right post in the 49th minute. Gordon nearly doubled the lead after an incredible solo run in the 50th minute where she outran a Spokane defender, cut inside and took a shot that went just over the crossbar.
Fung continued to control the midfield, fighting hard for every loose ball and drawing numerous fouls. Spokane nearly equalized the 59th minute with a wide open shot in front of the net, but McNeill blocked the shot just in time to preserve the FTL lead.
Fung made a terrific run in the 63rd minute, taking on a Spokane defender and earning a corner kick for FTL. On the ensuing set piece, Felicia Knox nearly sent a right-footed volley into the top right corner to extend the lead, but the outward-bending shot faded just right of the net. In the 65th minute, Gordon made a threatening run down the middle and made a perfect through-ball pass for McCain, who’s shot just missed the left post in the 65th minute.
The first wave of reinforcements entered the match for FTL in the 71st minute, with midfielder Darya Rajaee and debutant Kiara Pralle subbing in for Adrienne Jordan and Taylor Smith. In the 80th minute, Allen made her way onto the field for Fung. A pair of substitutes made instant impacts, as Allen and Pralle connected on a cross that was nearly slotted home by Pralle, but it was saved by the Spokane keeper in the bottom left corner in the 81st minute.
The Fort Lauderdale lead was doubled in the 85th minute after a shot from Gordon was saved, but the deflection fell at the feet of Allen, who sprinted in and stuck her foot out to put the ball into the back of the net. The goal is the first of the season for the super-sub Allen. As the final whistle neared closer, forward Thelma Hermannsdottir was inserted into the match for Hamid in the 86th minute.
Sensing defeat, the Spokane attack started to apply pressure. After a Spokane attacker played a cross into the box, Gottschalk punched the ball out, but it fell to the foot of a Spokane player. The attacker took a shot, but Gottschalk made a terrific save in the 90th minute to preserve the lead. Spokane broke through and scored a goal in the 91st minute, but it was too little, too late. When the final whistle blew, Fort Lauderdale United secured a 2-1 victory courtesy of goals from McCain and Allen.
Back in Action
Fort Lauderdale United FC will return to the pitch on Saturday, Dec. 14 for a rematch with second-seeded Carolina Ascent FC in the club’s final match of the first half of the season. Kick-off is set for 7:30pm 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’s next home match is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14 for the second meeting of the season with Carolina Ascent FC. The two teams fought hard, but Carolina ultimately earned the three points in a 2-1 victory. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST.
Scoring Summary
FTL: McCain, 9
FTL: Allen, 85
SPO: Rouse, 90+1