A rematch is on the cards on Saturday when Fort Lauderdale CF travels to face Toronto FC II at Osceola Heritage Park just three days after the sides faced each other at DRV PNK Stadium. Saturday’s match will kick off at 7 p.m. ET and air live on ESPN+.
“We’re going to play a very talented Toronto team. I thought it was a very exciting game [on Wednesday]. With the quick turnaround we’re just going to make sure we tweak a few things and make sure the guys are prepared and as fresh as possible,” said head coach Darren Powell.
Fort Lauderdale will enter the match on the back of its 2-2 draw with Toronto on Wednesday. In that match, Venton Evans scored his fourth goal of the season (second on the team) while Shaan Hundal netted his fifth goal of the season (most on the team), doing so against his former team. Both Evans and Brian Rosales registered their first assists of the season in the match as well.
Saturday’s rematch between the two teams will be just the second meeting every between them.
Thus far in 2021, Fort Lauderdale has compiled a record of four wins, two draws and five losses while Toronto has recorded one win, four draws and three losses.
Felipe Valencia Joins on Loan
Inter Miami First Team player Felipe Valencia has joined Fort Lauderdale CF on loan for the match and will be available for selection. The winger made history with Fort Lauderdale in 2020, becoming the youngest player to score a goal at any USL level at just 15 years, five months and 18 days. His goal broke the record set by current FC Bayern Munich star and former Vancouver Whitecaps academy product Alphonso Davies. Overall, Valencia made 12 appearances in League One in 2020, starting in nine of those matches and registering three goals, tied for second on the team.
He will join Inter Miami teammates George Acosta, Drake Callender and Josh Penn on the Fort Lauderdale CF roster for the match.
