MIAMI, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale United FC’s USL W league team earned its third consecutive victory by defeating FC Miami City on the road 5-0, led by a hat-trick from forward Anniina Sankoh. The win puts the club in second place in the southeast division with a 5-1 record, as they prepare for their last three regular-season games before the playoffs.
The match began almost immediately in Fort Lauderdale’s favor, after Sankoh got on the scoresheet in the 3rd minute to go up on Miami City 1-0. She continued playing well, making the score 2-0 shortly after in the 17th minute. Fort Lauderdale maintained the pressure on Miami City’s backline while stopping its attack, as the scoreline remained going into halftime.
Fort Lauderdale kept its momentum as they kicked off the second half, getting the third goal of the game in the 52nd minute. Defender Leah Finkelman sent a long pass to Lucia Garcia, who brought it down nicely and beat two defenders before passing the ball to Sankoh at the top of the box. Sankoh then beat defenders and set up a diving shot on goal to make the game 3-0. Fort Lauderdale would add another just three minutes later, after Isabella Rychel drove down the line and found Diana Pon on the cross wide open, who was able to tap the ball into the net. Pon would get the fifth and final goal of the game in the 67th minute, after converting a penalty kick that she earned, slotting it to the bottom left corner of the goal. Fort Lauderdale defended Miami City well in the last twenty minutes of the game, earning the shutout and 5-0 win.
Our Fort Lauderdale United FC USL W League team will return to the pitch on Wednesday, June 25 for an away game against Brevard SC Riptide. Kick-off is set for 6:00 pm.
