LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale United FC’s USL League Two Men’s team defeated Sarasota Paradise in the League Two Playoffs on Sunday evening, 2-1, in a thrilling match in the Round of 16. Defender Joackim Betina scored his first goal of the season and forward Ronaldo Belgrove was the club’s hero for the second match in a row, but this time in the Southern Conference Semifinals. With the victory, Fort Lauderdale United advances to the final eight, and more specifically, the Southern Conference Finals against Dothan United on Friday, July 25 in Vermont.
Fort Lauderdale was in the driver’s seat from the second the ball kicked-off, courtesy of Betina’s first goal of the 14-match season. In the opening minute, the defender made an incredible solo run down the right side, making multiple Sarasota defenders miss in the process. Betina continued his run into the box, firing a far post shot and hitting the back of the net to give Fort Lauderdale an advantage in the first minute. Fort Lauderdale stayed in control throughout the remainder of the first half and cruised to the 45-minute mark, taking a 1-0 lead into the halftime break on the road.
Just after play resumed in the second half, Sarasota equalized in the 48th minute. The speed of the game kept ramping up, as both teams continued to look for the winning goal in regulation. As the match approached the 90th minute, it seemed like Fort Lauderdale was headed towards a second consecutive match that headed to extra time, but Belgrove had other plans. In the 90th minute, Fort Lauderdale United started a counter attack with Michael Appiah down the left wing. The winger found Peter Kotroczo on a through-ball just outside the box, and he crossed the ball in for Belgrove in the middle of the box. The forward flicked the ball up to himself, and fired a left footed strike past the keeper to give Fort Lauderdale a 2-1 lead in the 90th minute. Belgrove scored the game-winning goal for the second game in a row, as after 90 minutes, Fort Lauderdale United secured a 2-1 victory in the Round of 16 over Sarasota Paradise, advancing to the Southern Conference Finals in the process.
Back In Action
Our Fort Lauderdale United FC USL League Two team will return to the pitch on Friday, July 25 for the Southern Conference Final against Dothan United. Kick-off is set for 4:00 p.m. in Vermont, and with a victory, the club would play the winner of Vermont Green and Lionsbridge FC in the League Two Semifinals.
