FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale United FC (8-4-5, 28 PTS) drew its matchup with Tampa Bay Sun FC (5-8-4, 23 PTS) on Saturday evening in the third edition of the Florida Derby. Jasmine Hamid, the reigning USL Super League Player of the Month, kept her unreal run of form going, scoring her fourth goal in her last four matches in the rivalry match. With the intense 1-1 draw, Fort Lauderdale’s incredible unbeaten streak has now been extended to seven games (5W, 2D).
Fort Lauderdale’s next match will be a highly-anticipated road matchup with top-seeded Brooklyn FC on March 15. The teams have split the season series so far, with each team winning its respective game at home. With the top spot in the USL Super League standings on the line, next weekend’s matchup has all the makings of a pivotal game.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUadT1oh6aQ
The match got off to a fast and intense start, with early pressure from FTL UTD keeping the Tampa team on edge. Forward Jorian Baucom, midfielder Taylor Smith and forward Hamid were applying pressure and drawing fouls early in the match.
Fort Lauderdale jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, courtesy of the on-fire Hamid. Sh’Nia Gordon made a terrific run down the right side before playing a perfect cross into the box. The back-to-back Player of the Month soared in and put the ball into the back of the net, giving FTL UTD a 1-0 advantage in the 8th minute.
Goalkeeper Cosette Morche made an incredible one-on-one save in the 14th minute to preserve the 1-0 FTL UTD lead. The Fort Lauderdale defense continued to press hard, intercept passes and draw fouls on an aggressive Tampa squad.
The lead was almost doubled in the 25th minute after a perfect through-ball pass from Addie McCain led Hamid into the Tampa box. Hamid took a touch and played a pass for Baucom, who took a backheel shot that was saved by the Sun keeper.
Tampa equalized in the 33rd minute, and nearly took the lead just one minute later. The incredible Morche came out of the box and blocked a shot that was destined for the net.
A great pass from McCain set up Gordon for a shot, but it just missed the net in the 42nd minute. Hamid nearly gave FTL the lead in stoppage time, but her shot sailed over the goal. Despite a pair of chances down the stretch, the teams went into the break knotted up at 1-1.
Fort Lauderdale came out of the halftime break with the same intensity. Defender Delaney Lindahl nearly found the go-ahead goal with a high-arcing shot in the 49th minute, but it deflected off of the crossbar before being cleared away. In the 51st minute, Baucom took a hard shot that deflected off of a Tampa defender before landing at the feet of McCain. The league’s leader in goals took a touch and fired a shot that sailed just over the crossbar.
Defender Adrienne Jordan and Hamid were an electric duo down the left side early in the second half. The tandem repeatedly connected on passes and routinely made Tampa defenders miss. The FTL UTD defense continued to stay strong, and Morche saved a near post shot in the 59th minute to preserve the tie.
As the match reached the 70th minute, the Derby began to get more and more physical. Both teams had players that were shown yellow cards after heated confrontations. McCain, Baucom, Hamid and Gordon continued to keep the press on and forced numerous mistakes by Tampa. Hamid nearly gave Fort Lauderdale the lead in the 82nd minute, but her near post shot was saved.
A trio of reinforcements entered the match for FTL UTD in the 84th minute, with Felicia Knox, Tati Fung and Thelma Hermannsdottir making their way onto the pitch for Smith, Baucom and Darya Rajaee. The ever-dynamic Hamid continued to make her impact as the final whistle neared closer, and just missed the net on a right-footed shot in the 86th minute.
With a pair of minutes added in stoppage time, FTL stayed on the attack and earned a corner kick in the 90th minute. The ensuing kick rebounded to Jordan, who played a high-ball into the box that was corralled by the Tampa keeper. Despite a late push, Fort Lauderdale United FC and Tampa Bay Sun FC tied in the Florida Derby for the third consecutive match.
Scoring Summary
FTL: Hamid, 8
TB: Nielsen, 33
Back in Action
Fort Lauderdale United FC will return to the pitch on Saturday, March 15 for a highly-anticipated road matchup with top-seeded Brooklyn FC. The two teams have met twice this season, with each club winning its match at home. The first meeting took place on October 5, and FTL UTD won 1-0 in the club’s historic home opener. Brooklyn FC took the second matchup, earning a 3-1 victory at home on October 27. Kick-off is set for 6:00 p.m. at Maimonides Park in New York 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, March 22 against Spokane Zephyr FC for Country Night. The clubs first met on August 17 in the inaugural match for both teams, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Fort Lauderdale cruised to a 2-1 home victory in the second meeting on December 7 courtesy of goals from McCain and Sheyenne Allen.