FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale United FC (4-5-2, 14 PTS) won its matchup with Dallas Trinity (5-2-5, 20 PTS) on Sunday evening, 2-1. An early, record-breaking goal from Jasmine Hamid and a late goal from Addie McCain powered FTL UTD to earning all three points over a Dallas team that had only lost one match prior to tonight. With the win, FTL UTD has earned its first victory since October 6 and will look to close out the first half of the season on a hot streak.
Fort Lauderdale has a pair of home games on deck before the break, and its next chance to add points to its total will be on Sunday, Dec. 7, when Spokane Zephyr FC makes its way across the country to Beyond Bancard Field. The matchup will be the second time that the two teams have met this season, with the first meeting resulting in a season-opening 1-1 draw in Spokane on August 17.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: https://youtu.be/DS3wfERco4w?si=tPF91mNcIH7GUhWG
FTL jumped out to a 1-0 lead courtesy of Hamid, who’s record-breaking goal in the 2nd minute is the fastest in league history. Heavy pressure from the Fort Lauderdale attack helped Felicia Knox intercept a pass from a hassled Dallas defender. Knox played a pass to Hamid, who took two dribbles, cut inside and fired an outward-bending shot into the top right corner to ignite Beyond Bancard Field just 110 seconds into the match.
Dallas nearly equalized in the 5th minute, but a strong save from Makenna Gottschalk preserved the 1-0 lead for FTL. Dominant wing play was a clear emphasis of the new tactics, as Sabrina McNeill and Hamid continued to create problems for the Dallas defense in the first 12 minutes.
The FTL attack nearly doubled the lead on multiple occasions early in the first half. Adrienne Jordan played an incredible through-ball pass behind the Dallas defense for Sh’Nia Gordon, who’s shot was saved in the 14th minute. Addie McCain played a perfect pass down the left wing for Hamid in the 18th minute, who took a pair of dribbles and took a shot that just nearly missed the far post. In the 20th minute, Tati Fung took a shot from point-blank range that was saved by the Dallas keeper.
The new look offense continued to dominate as the first half went on, with consistent through-ball passes down the wings. Gordon wreaked havoc on the right side and kept the Dallas defense on alert at all times, recording a shot that was eventually blocked in the 26th minute.
Gottschalk preserved the Fort Lauderdale lead once again, this time in the 36th minute with an incredible save from point blank range. Gordon took on two defenders, used her individual quality to dribble around both Dallas players and took a shot that was saved in the 37th minute. Both teams continued to apply pressure and attack as the half neared its end, and FTL would go into the halftime break leading 1-0.
The second half started, but it was the same Fort Lauderdale team from the first 45 minutes. The team continued to press the Dallas side and routinely possessed the ball in the attacking third in the first 8 minutes of the final half of play.
Dallas almost tied the game with a screaming shot in the 54th minute, but Gottschalk came to the rescue and saved the shot to preserve the lead for FTL. Hamid had a chance to double the lead in the 63rd minute, but it was saved by the Dallas keeper.
The first wave of reinforcements were called upon for Fort Lauderdale in the 64th minute, with defender Reese Klein and forward Anna Henderson entering the game for Fung and Jordan. Dallas broke through and equalized the match at 1-1 in the 68th minute on a close-range shot. In the 73rd minute, Dallas nearly took the lead after the ball fell inside the 10-yard box, but a sliding Gottschalk with an outstretched arm made an incredible save to keep the game tied.
On the ensuing corner kick, a Dallas player had a free header that hit the left post and Gottschalk was able to corral the ball before it entered the net. Gordon continued to have an impact, making a terrific solo run down the right side. The forward made a move, sent a Dallas defender to the ground and took a shot that hit the crossbar in the 76th minute.
A few minutes later, Gordon took on a pair of defenders, beat them to the touchline and crossed the ball into the box for Hamid. The goal-scorer played the ball back into the middle of the box for McCain, who sent a right-footed screaming shot into the bottom left corner to give Fort Lauderdale a 2-1 lead in the 81st minute. McCain added to her league-leading goal tally, scoring her 7th goal when the club needed it most.
FTL made a trio of substitutions as the final whistle approached, inserting forwards Nia Christopher (88th), Erica Gomes (88th) and Thelma Hermannsdottir (90+1) into the match for Hamid, McCain and Gordon. Dallas continued to attack, but the FTL defense had an answer for everything. After 94 minutes, Fort Lauderdale United FC secured a 2-1 win over Dallas Trinity FC, and snapped a five-match skid without a victory.
Back in Action
Fort Lauderdale United FC will return to the pitch on Saturday, Dec. 7 for a rematch with sixth-seeded Spokane Zephyr FC, the team that it opened its season with. Kick-off is set for 7:00pm 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 Saturday, Dec. 7 for the second meeting of the season with Spokane Zephyr FC. A hard-fought 90 minutes resulted in a 1-1 draw and a hard-earned point on the road for FTL. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST.
Scoring Summary
FTL: Hamid, 2
DAL: Thornton, 68
FTL: McCain, 81