FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale United FC secured its place in history on Wednesday evening, falling 1-2 in its ground-breaking, historic friendly matchup with NJ/NY Gotham FC in the first official meeting between the USL Super League and National Women’s Soccer League. Jasmine Hamid scored her fourth goal in her last five matches despite coming on as a halftime substitute, continuing her dominant run of play that dates back to December 1.
Goalkeeper Erin McKinney set the tone early for Fort Lauderdale, saving a pair of hard shots in the 2nd and 4th minute, respectively, to keep the game scoreless. Thelma Hermannsdottir was electric down the right side to begin the game, evading a pair of Gotham defenders with her pace before taking a shot that was saved.
Sabrina McNeill and Anna Henderson were a dominant duo down the left side early on, connecting on multiple passes. After a cross and header, Gotham took a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute. McKinney made another impressive save in the 22nd minute and Felicia Knox cleared the rebound away to relieve the back-line of danger.
Adrienne Jordan turned her game to another level in the 24th minute, playing a perfect through-ball pass for Hermannsdottir. Jordan continued to be a two-way threat for FTL UTD, clearing a pair of crosses out of danger in the 26th minute.
Gotham’s lead was extended to 2-0 in the 29th minute on another header. In the 33rd minute, McKinney made an incredible one-handed save on a Gotham bicycle kick, and Jordan was electric down the right side with her creativity, dribbling and quality. FTL UTD continued to put pressure on the Gotham squad as the half went on, but would go into halftime trailing 2-0.
Fort Lauderdale United made six substitutions coming out of the halftime break, with Laveni Vaka, Laurel Ansbrow, Sh’Nia Gordon, Tati Fung, Jasmine Hamid and Julia Grosso entering the match for Cameron Brooks, Celia Gaynor, Anele Komani, McNeill, Hermannsdottir and Henderson.
Jorian Baucom began to make an impact in the final third for FTL, playing a perfect ball down the right side for Gordon that earned a corner kick in the 47th minute. Hamid nearly pulled one back for Fort Lauderdale after a 54th-minute shot from Baucom rebounded in front of the box, but the Gotham keeper made a goal-line save.
Hamid and Baucom continued to give their full effort down the stretch, as a shot from Hamid was saved and the rebound shot from Baucom was corralled by the Gotham keeper. Fung was insightful everytime she had the ball at her feet, and played a forward pass behind the opposing defense for Baucom, but her shot faded just right of the net in the 67th minute.
Grosso made her mark on the left side in the 72nd minute, making a tremendous run where she made a trio of Gotham defenders miss before sending a cross into the box. A seventh reinforcement was on the way in the 75th minute, with Kiara Locklear entering the pitch for the dynamic Baucom.
In the 80th minute, Fung nearly scored on a knuckling shot from outside the box, but the Gotham keeper secured the ball. Darya Rajaee entered the game in the 88th minute for Taylor Smith as the eighth and final substitution for Fort Lauderdale. Gordon continued to play hard, making a hustle play on a through-ball down the right side that earned a corner kick for FTL UTD in the 90th minute.
On the ensuing play, Knox played a high-arcing corner kick and Hamid soared in, connecting on a header that she sent to the back of the net to make it 1-2 in stoppage time. Shortly after, the final whistle blew, and Fort Lauderdale United FC fell in its historic matchup with Gotham FC, 1-2.
Scoring Summary
NY: Esther, 19
NY: Howell, 29
FTL: Hamid, 90+1
Back in Action
Fort Lauderdale United FC returns to the pitch on Sunday, March 2 in a road matchup with Carolina Ascent FC. The two clubs met twice in the first half of the season, each winning its respective matchups at home. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. EST and the match will be streamed on the Peacock app and available for local viewing on FanDuel Sports Network.
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, March 8 against Tampa Bay Sun FC in the third iteration of the Florida Derby. The match takes place on International Women’s Day, and kick-off for the rivalry game is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.