BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Fort Lauderdale United FC (9-5-4, 31 PTS) won its matchup with Brooklyn FC (9-5-4, 31 PTS) on Saturday evening, 2-0. Forward Sh’Nia Gordon netted a brace in the dominant road win, and with the victory, Fort Lauderdale has now secured the top spot in the USL Super League standings. Additionally, FTL UTD’s unbeaten streak has now been extended to a league-high eight games (6W, 2D) with Saturday night’s win over Brooklyn.
Fort Lauderdale United’s next match will be a home matchup with Spokane Zephyr FC on Saturday, March 22. The teams have met twice this season, including the first match in club history for both teams that ended in a 1-1 draw on August 17, and the second match resulted in a 2-1 home victory for Fort Lauderdale on December 7.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: https://youtu.be/EYf1oXUQILQ?si=1VhW8xodfi85RuSO
The match got off to an unfortunate start for Fort Lauderdale, as starting center back Laveni Vaka had to depart the game in the 7th minute due to injury. Defender Celia Gaynor subbed into the match, and just one minute later, Gordon nearly gave FTL UTD the lead on a shot from outside the box, but the shot was saved by the Brooklyn keeper.
There was a clear emphasis on pressure from the Fort Lauderdale United squad, forcing Brooklyn to work hard at every turn. Gordon continued to make her mark on the right side, using her individual quality to routinely beat Brooklyn defenders. Gaynor and Lindahl connected on multiple occasions down the right side, keeping the Brooklyn defense on edge.
Goalkeeper Cosette Morche saved a pair of shots in the 21st and 22nd minutes, respectively, to keep the game tied at 0-0. Fort Lauderdale jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute courtesy of Gordon and Kiara Locklear. Darya Rajaee played a perfect free kick for Addie McCain, who headed the ball into the box. Locklear made an effort play and tapped the ball to Gordon, who spun and fired a rocketing volley into the back of the net to give FTL a 1-0 advantage.
FTL UTD kept its foot on the gas as the halftime whistle neared closer, with Jasmine Hamid having a shot saved and McCain sending a shot just over the crossbar, but the chances were unable to find the back of the net. After 45 minutes, Fort Lauderdale United went into the break maintaining a 1-0 lead on the road.
Fort Lauderdale picked up where it left off at the start of the second half, with Adrienne Jordan and Hamid putting together a couple of strong runs of play down the left side. The defensive unit of Laurel Ansbrow, Delaney Lindahl, Gaynor and Jordan were the stars of the early second half, clearing the back-line of any danger.
Morche made an incredible save in the 66th minute to preserve the advantage for FTL, and on the ensuing counter-attack, Gordon doubled the lead after pressure caused an errant pass from the Brooklyn keeper. Locklear took the ball into the box, creating a one-on-one matchup with the keeper before she was dispossessed. Locklear continued to apply pressure, forcing a pass to land at the feet of Gordon just outside the box, who fired a shot on her first touch that hit the back of the net in the 67th minute.
Despite owning a 2-0 lead, Rajaee and Locklear kept the same intensity, as the pair each had shots saved in the 72nd and 73rd minutes, respectively. The first reinforcement for FTL UTD entered the match in the 83rd minute as midfielder Felicia Knox came in for Taylor Smith.
As the final whistle approached, the Fort Lauderdale defense and Morche continued to stand tall and protect the net. The final pair of substitutions were made in the 90th minute with Tati Fung and Jorian Baucom making their way onto the pitch for Rajaee and the goal-scorer Gordon. After a hard-fought, physical 90 minutes, Fort Lauderdale United FC earned a 2-0 road win over Brooklyn, and secured the top spot in the USLS standings.
Scoring Summary
FTL: Gordon, 33
FTL: Gordon, 67
Back in Action
FTL returns to the pitch on Saturday, March 22 for. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Beyond Bancard Field and the match will be streamed on Peacock and available for 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 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.