Fort Lauderdale CF fell 3-0 on the road against reigning USL League One Champions North Texas SC. The match at Globe Life Park kicked off at 6:30 p.m. ET and aired live on ESPN+.
Fort Lauderdale CF began the match with two-first time starters, as 16-year-old Academy product left back Noah Allen and 18-year-old versatile midfielder Jason Bucknor, both of whom are Academy products, entered the starting XI. It was Noah’s professional debut and his first appearance for the team, while Bucknor had made eight substitute appearances.
It was a close first half with few attacking opportunities for both sides. Most notably, Fort Lauderdale goalkeeper Dylan Castanheira made two key interventions to keep the hosts scoreless before the half. First, in the 13th minute, Castanheira made a diving save to keep out a right-footed shot by North Texas’ Ronaldo Damus from the edge of the box. Then, in the 42nd minute, he made another diving save to stop an attempt from inside the box to send the match into the break with a 0-0 stalemate on the scoreline.
North Texas SC opened the scoring early on in the second half. In the 57th minute, striker Damus controlled a cross delivered into the box from the left side of the pitch before finishing the play with a left-footed strike that found the back of the net to give his team a 1-0 lead. The hosts then extended their lead in the 80th minute through a goal by midfielder Arturo Rodríguez and in the 89th minute with Damus’ second goal of the night. In the end, North Texas won the match 3-0.
Fort Lauderdale CF will continue its inaugural season on Friday, Oct. 9, when the team travels to Foxborough, MA., to take on the New England Revolution II at 7 p.m. ET.
