FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale United FC (8-5-4, 28 PTS) is set to make its way to New York on Saturday evening for a matchup with first-place Brooklyn FC (9-4-4, 31 PTS) in one of the most anticipated matchups of the season. The clubs met twice in October and split the matchups, each winning their matchup on home turf. With the top spot in the standings on the line, this match is certain to be one of the most important fixtures in the inaugural USL Super League season. The match is set to be the home opener for Brooklyn FC in their first match at Maimonides Park, just outside of Coney Island in New York.
Fort Lauderdale has been on a tear since December, bringing a seven-match unbeaten streak (5W, 2D) into its road matchup with Brooklyn. Reigning back-to-back Player of the Month Jasmine Hamid has been electric, scoring in four consecutive matches. The club is second in goals scored (24), and the duo of Addie McCain (9G) and Kiara Locklear (3G, 3A), along with Hamid, come together to make one of the most dangerous trios in the USLS from an attacking perspective. The stalwart defense is led by the dominant center back duo of Laveni Vaka and Laurel Ansbrow, who was selected to the February Team of the Month. With a matchup with the top-seed on the horizon, FTL UTD will be looking to carry its momentum into Saturday and capitalize on a Brooklyn squad that just suffered a defeat.
Coming off a stunning 6-0 defeat against Dallas, Brooklyn FC enters Saturday’s matchup still owning the first seed in the USLS standings. The Brooklyn squad is the only team in the league to have a quintet of players with at least 3 goals, with Jessica Garziano (4), Luana Grabias (4), Dana Scheriff (3), Isabel Cox (3) and Mackenzie George (3) combining for 17 of the club’s 20 goals. Defensively, the club is led by Allison Pantuso (1,051) and Kelsey Hill (977), the top two passers in the league statistically. Goalkeepers Neeku Purcell and Sydney Martinez combine for 8 clean sheets, more than any other team. Prior to last week’s loss, Brooklyn had been sporting a six-match unbeaten streak, and the club has a tough-task ahead with the surging, streaking FTL UTD squad.
Matchup History
The first meeting between the clubs was the historic home opener for FTL UTD on October 6. A late, winning goal from Reese Klein earned all three points in a historic 1-0 win over Brooklyn FC in Fort Lauderdale’s inaugural match at Beyond Bancard Field.
The teams met for the second time in Brooklyn on October 27, just three weeks after the first match. Midfielder Felicia Knox scored her first goal of the season on a free kick, but Brooklyn would end up earning a 3-1 victory on its home pitch.
Where to Watch
The match is set to kick-off at 6:00 p.m. and it will be streamed on the Peacock app. The direct link to watch the match can be found here.
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, March 22 against Spokane Zephyr FC for Country Night. The clubs first met on August 17 in the inaugural match for both teams, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Fort Lauderdale cruised to a 2-1 home victory in the second meeting on December 7 courtesy of goals from McCain and Sheyenne Allen.