FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale United FC (3-5-2, 11 PTS) dropped its matchup with DC Power FC (3-6-4, 13 PTS) on Saturday evening, falling on a stoppage time winner, 1-0. The match seemed destined for a scoreless draw until a header in the 92nd minute found the back of the net for DC. With the loss, FTL UTD has now dropped four of its last five matches and will look to get back on track before the winter break arrives.
Fort Lauderdale has a pair of home matches remaining before the break, and the next opportunity to earn points will be on Sunday, Dec. 1, when FTL welcomes Dallas Trinity FC to Beyond Bancard Field. The matchup will be the second of the season between the two teams, who played a tough, close match in Texas on Nov. 2 until an 87th minute goal secured the three points for Dallas.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: https://youtu.be/DG06CT6ci6A
The match got off to a fast start for FTL, with Addie McCain and Jasmine Hamid connecting down the left wing multiple times within the first few minutes. In the 5th minute, the electric Erica Gomes made a couple of defenders miss and played the ball to Sh’Nia Gordon, who’s shot was blocked.
As the half went on, Fort Lauderdale continued to dominate possession. It was a clear emphasis to play through-balls from central midfielders Felicia Knox and Addie McCain for the dynamic wing duo of Hamid and Gordon. The impressive Gomes continued to make plays for FTL, using her individual quality in the 23rd minute to take on three DC defenders on a solo run.
Gomes nearly gave Fort Lauderdale the lead in the 37th minute after Gordon played a great ball to the forward, who’s shot was deflected out for a corner kick. On the ensuing set piece, Knox played a perfect ball in the air for Gomes, who’s header beat the DC keeper, but was saved off the line by a DC defender in the 38th minute.
As the half reached closer to its end, FTL’s build up play continued to create opportunities for the club. In the 45th minute, Gomes dribbled into the box, made two defenders miss and took a shot from inside the box that was saved by the DC keeper. Despite strong attacks from FTL at the end of the half, the two teams went into the break knotted up 0-0.
Fort Lauderdale came out of the break with the same intensity it started the game with, but it was spearheaded by the play of goalkeeper Heather Hinz. The stalwart Hinz made an incredible diving save in the top right corner to keep the game tied in the 51st minute. Hinz struck again in the 56th minute with another impressive save.
Defender Reese Klein made her way onto the pitch for Laveni Vaka in the 58th minute as the first substitute of the game, and her impact was immediate. Klein routinely placed long balls down the right side for Gordon, putting more energy into the attack. Fort Lauderdale nearly found a breakthrough goal in the 61st minute, but a long shot from Darya Rajaee just drifted outside of the right post.
In the 71st minute, Klein played a long ball down the right wing that Gordon stopped at the corner flag. Gordon found Gomes, who showed her ability as she fought off two defenders and played a ball to the back post for McCain, who’s shot sailed over the crossbar. The game remained tied after Hinz made another save in the 74th minute.
A wave of reinforcements entered the game for FTL, with forward Tati Fung and defender Adrienne Jordan making their way on the pitch for Rajaee and Taylor Smith in the 76th minute. The final duo of substitutes for Fort Lauderdale came into the game in the 84th minute with forward Gianna Gourley and defender Sheyenne Allen coming in for Hamid and Gomes.
Fung made an instant impact, drawing a foul and earning a free kick just outside of the DC box in the 85th minute. Allen and Fung both lined up to take the shot, but it was the right-footed Fung that took an in-swinging shot. The free kick cleared the DC wall, but deflected off of the woodwork on the right side. McCain had a chance to give the club the lead in the 87th minute, but the right-footed shot was saved by the DC keeper.
As the 90th minute approached, the fourth official announced a minimum of three minutes of stoppage time. The first two minutes of added time were back and forth until the 92nd minute, when a DC midfielder played a cross into the box that was headed into the back of the net, giving DC a 1-0 lead. Fort Lauderdale had one final chance with a corner kick in the 93rd minute, but it was unsuccessful. The final whistle was blown, and FTL UTD fell 1-0 to DC Power FC.
Back in Action
Fort Lauderdale United FC returns to the pitch on Sunday, Dec. 1 to continue its five-match homestand with third-seeded Dallas Trinity FC. Kick-off is set for 7:30pm EST and the match will be streamed on Peacock.
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 Sunday, Dec. 1 for a rematch with Dallas Trinity FC. The two teams battled until an 87th minute goal won the match for Dallas. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST.
Scoring Summary
DC: Bagley, ‘90+2