FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale United (9-8-7, 34 PTS) dropped its matchup with Brooklyn FC (10-9-7, 37 PTS) on Saturday evening, 1–4. Forward Sh’Nia Gordon scored Fort Lauderdale’s lone goal, her fourth of the season. With the result, Fort Lauderdale is now winless in its last six matches (0W, 3D, 3L) and has fallen to sixth place in the USL Super League standings. With just four matches remaining in the inaugural season, the upcoming May 16 matchup with Lexington SC could prove pivotal in Fort Lauderdale’s playoff push.
Fort Lauderdale United will travel to Kentucky for a road matchup against Lexington SC on Friday, May 16. The two sides have faced off three times this season, with Fort Lauderdale holding a 2–1 edge in the series. The first meeting came on September 22 in Lexington, where Addie McCain recorded a hat trick in a 3–1 win. Lexington responded with a 2–1 victory on October 8 in Fort Lauderdale, despite another goal from McCain. In the most recent contest, Fort Lauderdale secured a 2–0 win at Beyond Bancard Field, with goals from Jasmine Hamid and McCain.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: https://youtu.be/n0f6ba2kPAg?si=ePeMwudVJ8G7kVPZ
The intensity was there early for Fort Lauderdale United FC, as the club forced a pair of Brooklyn turnovers in the first five minutes. After intercepting a pass, midfielder Felicia Knox took a hard, right-footed shot that was saved by the Brooklyn keeper.
There was a clear emphasis to play down the right side, as Gordon and Julia Grosso – in her return from injury – connected multiple times on the wing. The duo repeatedly played crosses into the box, threatening the Brooklyn defense with dangerous passes in front of the net.
One of the most dangerous attackers in the league, Jasmine Hamid nearly added to her top-three goal tally with a shot in the 10th minute, but it faded just right of the net. Midfielder Taylor Smith was active in the midfield, intercepting a pass before drawing a foul in the 15th minute.
In the 19th minute, Brooklyn FC took the lead. Just three minutes later, Gordon nearly equalized on a right-footed shot inside the box, but the shot sailed just over the crossbar. Gordon kept inching closer to finding the back of the net – nearly scoring twice in the 21st minute – but her shot was saved.
In the 26th minute, Felicia Knox played a free kick into the Brooklyn box. The ball bounced inside the box and Laurel Ansbrow rushed to the ball, crossing it to Gordon – who tapped the ball into the back of the net to equalize.
Goalkeeper Cosette Morché made an incredible one-handed save in the 37th minute to keep the game tied at 1-1, denying the Brooklyn attack. Forward Kiara Locklear intercepted a pass and had a one-on-one matchup with the Brooklyn keeper in the 38th minute, but her direct shot was saved. After 45 minutes, the two clubs went into the half-time break deadlocked at 1-1.
The second half got off to a fast start for FTL UTD, as Hamid nearly gave the club the lead in the 48th minute with a high-arcing shot that sailed just over the crossbar. The first reinforcements entered the match for Fort Lauderdale United in the 56th minute with Darya Rajaee and Thelma Hermannsdottir coming onto the pitch for Knox and Hamid.
It was a nightmare sequence for Fort Lauderdale, as Brooklyn jumped out to a 4-1 lead after scoring back-to-back-to-back goals in the 57th, 59th and 61st minutes. Julia Grosso nearly pulled one back for FTL UTD in the 63rd minute, but her left-footed shot was saved by the Brooklyn FC keeper. Rajaee kept the pressure on the Brooklyn defense, also taking a shot that faded just right of the net just two minutes after.
Smith played an insightful pass for Hermannsdottir in the 70th minute, continuing to threaten the Brooklyn defense. Fort Lauderdale made a trio of subs as the game neared the final whistle as Jorian Baucom, Tati Fung and Nia Christopher entered the match for Grosso, Hermannsdottir and McCain. Despite a couple of late pushes from the FTL attack, Fort Lauderdale United FC fell 1-4 to Brooklyn FC on Saturday evening.
Scoring Summary
BKN: Garziano, (‘19)
FTL: Gordon, (‘26)
BKN: Kelly, (‘56)
BKN: Breslin, (‘59)
BKN: Brooks (OG), (‘61)
Back in Action
Fort Lauderdale United will return to the pitch on Friday, May 16, for a road matchup against eighth-seeded Lexington SC. Fort Lauderdale holds the edge in the season series, with wins both at home and on the road in the teams’ previous meetings.
Tickets
Season ticket packages for all home matches, as well as single-game tickets can be purchased here. FTL UTD’s next – and final – regular season home match is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 against Dallas Trinity FC for Fan Appreciation Night. The two sides are evenly matched this season, with one win apiece and a draw in their three meetings.