Fort Lauderdale CF kicked off the 2021 USL League One season with a match against New England Revolution II at the newly christened DRV PNK Stadium. The team fell to a 0-1 defeat in the season opener.
Fort Lauderdale started the match with an XI featuring six returning players from 2020 – Noah Allen, Edison Azcona, Ethan Hardin, Christian Lue Young, Modesto Mendez and Joshua Saavedra – and five newcomers – George Acosta, Abel Caputo, Drew Hardin, Shaan Hundal and Luis Zamudio.
Of the starters, five were Inter Miami CF Academy products - Allen, Azcona, Drew and Ethan Hardin, and Saavedra. Two of the players - Acosta and Azcona - featured on loan from Inter Miami, where they are signed to First Team contracts.
The hosts came close to scoring in the 41st minute, again through strong play from Allen, who had created danger throughout the half. The young left back received the ball on the left side of the box before driving towards the end line and striking a low, driven shot across goal that hit the far post. The match entered halftime scoreless.
Fort Lauderdale opened the second half with a pair of changes, bringing on a pair of academy registered players in Cesar Cuellar and Braxton Najib, making his debut for the team, for Azcona and Acosta.
It was New England who opened the second half strongest; in the 50th minute Zamudio was called into action for the first time, leaving his line to make an important save from close range. Moments later, however, the team found the back of the net through Ryan Sierakowski, who received the ball in the box and tucked a shot inside the near post for a goal and a 0-1 lead.
Fort Lauderdale made a few more changes throughout the second half, first bringing on Ignacio Poplawski for his team debut, and later Francisco Raggio. Raggio came close to finding the equalizing goal for the team in the 81st minute, receiving the ball at the top of the box, cutting in on his right foot and firing a strike off the post. Seconds later, the referee blew the whistle and halted the match due for a weather delay.
Following the resumption of play, the hosts made one more change, bringing on Frank Nodarse for Caputo. Fort Lauderdale, however, was unable to find the equalizing goal before time was up, falling to a 0-1 defeat at DRV PNK Stadium.
Next up for Fort Lauderdale CF is a trip to Statesboro, Ga. to face South Georgia Tormenta FC at Erk Russell Athletic Park on Saturday, April 17.
