In the second home match of the season, Fort Lauderdale United FC spent much of its time searching for a way through Brooklyn FC. When that moment finally came, the club made sure it was enough.
Brooklyn controlled much of the opening half at Amerant Bank Field in Davie, disrupting Fort Lauderdale’s attack with pressure in the midfield and repeatedly winning back possession. Fort Lauderdale struggled to establish a consistent rhythm but remained within reach as its defense kept Brooklyn off the scoreboard.
Finally, the patience paid off, as midfielder Nicole Vernis found the back of the net, off an assist from Sh’nia Gordon, en route to a 1-0 victory last month. It was the club’s first win of the season in the Gainbridge Super League, a professional women’s soccer organization of eight teams.
Fort Lauderdale returned to action last Saturday, dropping a 3-0 decision to Carolina Ascent FC. United is now 1-2 with three points as it prepares for another road match against Tampa Bay Sun FC on Saturday.
Against Brooklyn, one of Fort Lauderdale’s best opportunities came in the 41st minute when Grace Cutler nearly broke through one-on-one before defender Jordan Thompson recovered with a sliding block. Brooklyn answered with its first shot on target in stoppage time, but goalkeeper Haley Craig reacted to a deflected effort to send the match into halftime scoreless.
For coach Tyrone Mears, the problem was clear.
“The big thing I told them was the first ball and second balls; we were losing them,” Mears said after the win. “But credit to them, they didn’t give up, you know, even when things were going against them.”
Mears adjusted at halftime, bringing Keli Van Treeck into the midfield for Emily Thompson. But the difference went beyond personnel. Fort Lauderdale returned to the field playing with an aggression and urgency that had been missing during the opening 45 minutes.
It took less than 30 seconds to pay off. Gordon drove the attack down the right side and delivered a ball across the box to Vernis at the far post. Vernis finished the opportunity to give Fort Lauderdale a 1-0 advantage in the 46th minute — the club’s first goal of the season.
“That second half, we were able to come out and capitalize within 30 seconds,” Vernis said. “We talked about having that mentality shift going into the second half, and we did just that.”
With the lead secured, Fort Lauderdale began winning more of the battles that had caused problems before halftime. Gordon continued to create pressure going forward, while Kiara Locklear and Cutler challenged Brooklyn’s defense.
Mears continued to make changes as the match progressed. Taylor Smith and Abigail Hug entered for Shea Moyer and Cutler in the 73rd minute, while Farrah Walters later replaced Ella Simpson as Fort Lauderdale looked to protect its advantage.
“You score a goal, then that kind of heaviness comes off your shoulders a little bit, and you get a little more life in your legs,” Mears said. “We were winning the first and second balls.”
But Brooklyn did not go quietly.
In the 50th minute, Craig pushed Catherine Zimmerman’s header onto the crossbar before Sophia Lowenberg sent the rebound wide. Craig was tested again in the 77th minute, producing a pair of saves to deny Tziarra King and Emma Loving and preserve Fort Lauderdale’s narrow lead.
Craig, however, viewed the shutout as a reflection of the entire team.
“Obviously, it took all 11 people on the field. It wasn’t just me,” Craig said. “I think we all were just really together, and like, our communication was really strong.”
That collective effort became the story of the night. Vernis supplied the finish, Gordon created, Craig protected it, and Fort Lauderdale’s defense absorbed Brooklyn’s attempts to answer. The performance was not perfect, but Mears did not expect it to be.
“If you want to do something in this league, you’re not going to play pretty for the whole time,” Mears said. “We suffered today, and we stood up to it.”
For a team still finding its identity early in the regular season, the home victory offered more than three points. It showed that when Fort Lauderdale needed a response, the entire group found one.
And now, on Saturday against a state rival in Tampa, United has a chance to reach the .500 mark.
