Fort Lauderdale CF earned the first victory in team history as it defeated South Georgia Tormenta FC 1-2 in the team’s first away match. The USL League One matchup at Erk Russell Park in Statesboro, Ga. kicked off at 8 p.m. ET and aired live on ESPN+.
Fort Lauderdale lined up with a new look starting XI, making five changes from the team’s previous starting lineup. Notably, two Academy products - 17-year-old defender Ethan Hardin and 15-year-old winger Felipe Valencia - made their professional debuts in the match, while Eduardo Sosa made his Fort Lauderdale CF debut. Christian Lue Young made his first start for the team and Francisco Raggio returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench in the team’s second match.
A balanced opening phase saw both teams threaten in spurts as they looked to figure each other out. At the 26 minute mark, Tormenta FC threatened with a swift counterattack but Brian Rosales tracked back and snuffed it out despite being outnumbered.
A few minutes later the team threatened in attack when Eduardo Sosa drove forward from the midfield and played a through ball to Sami Guediri on the left side of the box. Guediri then delivered a powerful low shot across the face of goal that drifted just wide of the far post.
It was Fort Lauderdale who would eventually strike first, taking a 0-1 lead in the 41st minute of proceedings. A clinical counterattack started when Blaine Ferri drove forward from just outside of his own box and played a forward pass to Valencia, who tapped a first-time pass to Sosa in the midfield circle. Sosa once again drove forward with the ball before earning his first assist for the team with a driven pinpoint pass to split the defense. The pass found 16-year-old winger Edison Azcona who calmly took a few touches into the box and slotted a shot past the keeper into the left corner of the net, registering his first professional goal.
In the second minute of first-half stoppage time, goalkeeper Dylan Castanheira was thrust into action. The stopper - who earned USL League One Save of the Week honors in his last match - answered the call with a leaping reaction save to tip away a powerful shot from the opposition.
A trio of chances came Fort Lauderdale’s way in the second half, beginning with close-range efforts from Ricky Lopez-Espin that were saved in the 53rd and 59th minutes respectively. In the 65th minute, Ferri drove past a defender and played a ball to Sosa at the top of the box, who shook a defender with a Cruyff Turn before curling a shot just wide of the far post.
The sustained pressure paid off in the 76th minute when Lopez-Espin grabbed the second goal of the match and his second goal of the season. The forward collected possession just behind midfield before taking a touch and striking a spectacular driven shot from the midfield line, catching the keeper out and taking a 0-2 lead.
The second goal would prove to be the winner for the team as Mikie Rowe went on to score a goal in the 93rd minute for Tormenta FC. Still, Fort Lauderdale held on to the 1-2 lead for the remainder of the match, securing the team’s first points.
Three more Academy players made their professional debuts in the match as second-half substitutes. First, 18-year-old midfielder Cesar Cuellar came on in the 60th minute in place of Valencia, followed by 17-year-old defender Allan Cuartas for Azcona in the 82nd minute and 16-year-old forward Dylan Talero for Guediri.
The match marked a return to action for Fort Lauderdale CF after a two week hiatus. The team’s match against the Richmond Kickers scheduled for Saturday, August 1 was postponed due to one individual testing positive for COVID-19. That match was rescheduled for Wednesday, September 23 at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Fort Lauderdale CF will return to action on Friday, August 14 when it travels to Central Florida to face Orlando City B.
