Fort Lauderdale CF drew 2-2 against Forward Madison FC at home in its second to last regular season matchup. Midfielders Eduardo Sosa and Dairon Reyes scored the team’s goals in the match. The USL League One game at Inter Miami CF Stadium kicked off at 4 p.m. ET and aired live on ESPN+.
The first half saw Fort Lauderdale deliver a strong performance defensively to neutralize Forward Madison’s opportunities on the offensive end. The team also generated several scoring chances in the final stages of the first 45 minutes and was able to break the deadlock in the 38th minute. 16-year-old winger Edison Azcona delivered a low cross from the left side of the pitch that was slapped away by the opposition’s goalkeeper into the middle of the box. Midfielder Sosa then quickly reacted to take advantage of the rebound, sliding in to make contact with the ball with his right foot and send it to the back of the net to score his third goal of the campaign and give Fort Lauderdale a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, Fort Lauderdale picked up where it left off and was able to extend its lead in the 67th minute; Sosa started the play with a pass into space to free up Azcona down the left wing, who showcased nifty footwork before cutting into his right and handing off the ball to 17-year-old forward Dairon Reyes, who had come off the bench in the 54th minute to replace 15-year-old winger Felipe Valencia, on the right side of the box. Reyes then delivered a right footed strike that beat the keeper to put 2-0 on the board for Fort Lauderdale. It was Azcona’s third assist of the season and Reyes’ first goal; both players are Inter Miami CF Academy products.
Forward Madison bounced back in the remaining minutes and was able to get back into the match with goals by winger Paulo Jr. in the 73rd minute and defender Christian Díaz in the 85th minute. In the end, the game finished in a 2-2 stalemate.
Fort Lauderdale CF will close its inaugural season in USL League One with its final regular season matchup when it travels to face Union Omaha at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 24.
