DALLAS, TX. (November 1, 2026) – Fort Lauderdale United FC (2-8-1, 7 PTS) fell to Dallas Trinity FC (4-4-2, 14 PTS) on Sunday evening at Cotton Bowl Stadium in the final meeting between the two clubs during the 2026 Gainbridge Super League campaign. Fort Lauderdale has three remaining opportunities to earn points as it continues its push to qualify for the Gainbridge Super League Playoffs.
A Chippy, Intense First 45 Minutes
It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium, with both teams bringing intensity from the opening whistle. The opening 45 minutes featured hard tackles and physical play on both sides as the clubs battled for valuable points in the push for postseason qualification. Goalkeeper Haley Craig continued her strong run of form following her clean sheet in the previous match, keeping a high-powered Dallas attack off the scoresheet throughout the first half. Fort Lauderdale’s best opportunity came in the 20th minute when Abi Hugh set up the in-form Sh’nia Gordon with a through ball down the left side. Gordon took a touch before firing a low, left-footed shot that was saved by the Dallas goalkeeper. Despite chances on both sides, the clubs went into the halftime break scoreless.
A Shorthanded Second Half
Fort Lauderdale was dealt a difficult hand just 13 minutes into the second half when midfielder Taylor Smith was shown a second yellow card, forcing the club to play the remaining 32 minutes with 10 players. Shortly after, Interim Head Coach Paul Jennison made a double change, bringing Kelli Van Treeck and Amber Nguyen on for Grace Cutler and Maggy Henschler. Shortly after, Dallas took the lead in the 71st minute and doubled its advantage just four minutes later. Jennison continued to make changes down the stretch, with Farrah Walters and Molly McDougal entering the match, but Dallas added another goal as Fort Lauderdale fell 0-3 on the road Sunday evening. With the result, Fort Lauderdale has dropped its second match in three outings but will have a chance to return to the win column when it hosts Tampa Bay Sun FC in the final Florida Derby of 2026.
Scoring Summary
DAL: Castain, ‘71
DAL: Moore, ‘75
DAL: Eichenberger, ‘86
Back in Action on November 6
Fort Lauderdale United will return to the pitch on Friday, Nov. 6, hosting Tampa Bay Sun FC at Amerant Bank Field for the inaugural United For Good game. The clubs will meet for the second and final time this season, with Tampa Bay claiming victory in a dramatic matchup that featured a 40-minute delay due to lighting issues. With Fort Lauderdale looking to secure its first-ever win over its in-state rival, Friday’s Florida Derby promises to be an intense matchup.
Get Your Tickets
Fort Lauderdale United FC returns to Amerant Bank Field on Friday, November 6, hosting rival Tampa Bay Sun FC in the United For Good Game – supporting United Way Broward – in the final edition of the Florida Derby in the 2026 Gainbridge Super League campaign. Click HERE to get your tickets! Stay tuned and follow us on social media to stay up-to-date with all things FTL UTD on Instagram, X(Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, and Facebook.
