Title Rematch in Tampa end in 0-0 draw between Tampa Bay Sun and Fort Lauderdale United
Fort Lauderdale is now unbeaten in six straight
In a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s Super League Final, Fort Lauderdale United FC (3-0-3, 12 PTS) battled Tampa Bay Sun FC (0-3-3, 3 PTS) to a 0-0 draw on Saturday evening in Downtown Tampa. The result keeps Fort Lauderdale’s impressive unbeaten streak alive at six matches and continues the fiercely contested Florida Derby rivalry.
The action at Suncoast Credit Union Field saw Fort Lauderdale on the attack from the opening whistle, but the resilient Tampa Bay defense, backed by an inspired home crowd, held firm. Goalkeeper Bella Hara was a steady presence for United, earning her second clean sheet of the season in the scoreless affair.
The draw marks the fourth time in six meetings that these in-state rivals have split the points, a growing trend since Tampa Bay edged out Fort Lauderdale to win the inaugural 2024-25 Super League Championship. While the Sun’s search for their first win of the new season continues, they successfully snapped Fort Lauderdale’s three-game win streak.
Despite securing a point on the road against their biggest rivals, the mood in the Fort Lauderdale camp was subduded
Head Coach Ali Rogers acknowledged the difficulty of earning a result away from home, but stressed the team’s need for improvement. “We’re only as good as what we produced in our last game, and today wasn’t our best game,” Rogers said. “It’s never easy to get a point on the road, but we obtained the point, and we’re just going to move forward, work harder and learn and grow from this.”
Captain Sh’nia Gordon echoed her coach’s sentiment, admitting the squad expects more from themselves. “I think we’re a little disappointed. I know that we can play better, we know that we can play better,” Gordon stated. “Obviously, we always want to get the three points every time we step on the field, but we’re going to go again next week, work at it and get ready for our next game.”
The match also served as “Kick for the Cure” night honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with Sun players wearing pink warm-ups and fans filling out “I Fight For...” cards for loved ones battling cancer.
Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Sun