Fort Lauderdale CF returned to USL League One action following a two-week hiatus, drawing 1-1 against the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. The match at Inter Miami CF Stadium kicked off at 8 p.m. ET and aired live on ESPN+.
Fort Lauderdale CF’s first match in two weeks saw two players make their debuts for the team. Venezuelan defender / midfielder Christian Makoun, who was loaned to the team from Inter Miami CF, and goalkeeper Andre Zuluaga, an Inter Miami CF Academy registered player, made their first outings for Fort Lauderdale CF as members of the starting XI.
In the 26th minute of the match, Fort Lauderdale CF went up 1-0 with an own goal by Chattanooga winger Ricardo Zacarías. Left-back Sami Guediri played the ball to 16-year-old winger Edison Azcona from a corner taken from the right wing of the pitch, who immediately returned the ball to the defender before his curled left-footed cross from outside the box was deflected and found the back of the net.
Fort Lauderdale continued to generate dangerous opportunities in attack, almost doubling its lead in the 38th minute when a through ball from Guediri found 15-year-old winger Felipe Valencia open with space near the right wing, who then unleashed a left-footed strike from the edge of the box that bounced off the far post.
The visiting team then had a number of chances before the break. First, Fort Lauderdale defender and Academy graduate Ian Fray made a crucial tackle, tracking back after a low cross found the opposition’s forward inside the box and picking the ball off the attacker in the 39th minute. Chattanooga was then able to find the equalizing goal before halftime, with midfielder Ualefi scoring to tie the match at 1-1 in the 42nd minute.
A cagey second half was dominated by the defenses, keeping out any clear chances for the rest of the match. Fort Lauderdale CF made a number of substitutions to refresh the team, with midfielder and Academy graduate Francisco Raggio coming on for Makoun, and winger Andres Cardenas replacing Valencia in the 61st minute. Subsequently, versatile wide players Jason Bucknor and Christian Lue Young were subbed on for Ricky Lopez-Espin and Azcona.
In the end, both sides were unable to find the winning goal and the match finished in a 1-1 stalemate.
Fort Lauderdale CF will continue its USL League One season at home facing Orlando CIty B at Inter Miami CF Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. ET.
