FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale United FC (7-5-3, 24 PTS) cruised to a 2-0 victory in its matchup with Lexington SC (3-10-3, 12 PTS) on Saturday evening. USL Super League Golden Boot leader Addie McCain scored her 9th goal of the season and reigning Player of the Month Jasmine Hamid scored an incredible, screaming top corner goal in the victory.
The victory adds to a five-match points streak for Fort Lauderdale, who has now won four of its last five matches (4W, 1D) after a five-match stretch in the first-half of the season that saw the club lose four of five games (1D, 4L). The streaking FTL UTD club now sits third in the league standings and is now tied for the league-lead in goals scored with 21.
Fort Lauderdale’s next match will be its groundbreaking meeting with the National Women’s Soccer League club NJ/NY Gotham FC on February 26 at Beyond Bancard Field at NSU. The historic matchup is the first official meeting between the USL Super League and the National Women’s Soccer League.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OijoXxQyOac
The match got off to a fast start with Kiara Locklear making a tremendous solo run down the left side, putting a shot on target that was saved in the first minute. Hamid kept the pressure on, nearly giving FTL UTD the lead in the 8th minute after a perfect header from Locklear, but the shot faded just right of the net.
In the 11th minute, midfielder Darya Rajaee played a perfect through-ball pass for Locklear, who took a touch and fired a shot that hit the outside of the netting. The electric Locklear was making her mark in the match early on.
The duo of new defensive additions in Laurel Ansbrow and Julia Grosso were active early, intercepting passes and contributing to the attack. Rajaee continued to pull the strings in the midfield as the half went on, and the wing play became a point emphasis from the coaching staff.
Midfielder Taylor Smith made an impressive play, making a defender miss before sending a shot that was sent just over the crossbar in the 39th minute. Goalkeeper Cosette Morche was tested for the first time in the 41st minute, making a save on a high-arcing shot inside the box.
Grosso continued to be physical in her Fort Lauderdale United debut, and the Sunrise native routinely made plays down the left side. After a hard-fought, physical first half, the two teams went into the break deadlocked at 0-0.
The breakthrough came in the 49th minute after McCain played a perfect through-ball pass down the right side for Locklear, who took some touches and played the ball across the box for McCain. The league’s leading scorer took a touch and sent a right footed shot into the back of the net, giving FTL a 1-0 lead.
Gordon nearly doubled the lead in the 56th minute on a rocket of a shot inside the box but her shot was saved by the Lexington keeper. The FTL UTD attack continued to keep the pressure on the Lexington defense, earning six corner kicks in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
Hamid doubled the lead in the 62nd minute with a screaming shot into the top corner of the near post. The league’s reigning Player of the Month took a pair of dribbles, cut inside and fired a right-footed screaming shot into the top left corner, beating the Lexington keeper to give FTL a 2-0 advantage. The on-fire Hamid has now scored in back-to-back matches after scoring a goal and pitching in two assists in December.
Rajaee and Smith continued to create chances and pace the midfield as the game wound down. Reinforcements began to enter the pitch in the 75th minute for FTL UTD, with forward Jorian Baucom making her home debut while subbing in for Gordon. Tati Fung, Thelma Hermannsdottir and Felicia Knox made their way onto the field as the clock neared 90 minutes for Rajaee, Smith and Locklear.
Morche and the Fort Lauderdale back-line stayed consistent up until the final whistle, and after a dominant 90 minutes, FTL UTD earned a 2-0 victory over Lexington SC at Beyond Bancard Field in the spring home opener.
Back in Action
Fort Lauderdale United FC returns to the pitch on Wednesday, Feb. 26 for its historic home matchup with 2023 NWSL champions NJ/NY Gotham FC. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. EST. Get your tickets to witness history TODAY!
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, Feb. 26 with former NWSL champions NJ/NY Gotham FC making its way down to South Florida. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST at Beyond Bancard Field at NSU.