Fort Lauderdale CF will travel to Arizona this weekend hoping to extend its unbeaten run to three when the team takes on FC Tucson on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 10 p.m. ET. The match will air live on ESPN+.
“I think that all three games until now have been slightly different. I don’t expect the fourth one to be the same as any of the three previous matches. It’s very tight obviously towards the end of the season, it’s a very meaningful season for both teams, for both sets of players, so for us it’s a matter of making sure we establish ourselves within the game and how we want to play,” said head coach Darren Powell. “We also have to match Tucson because they’ll be wanting the same thing. We need to counteract that and press on doing what we’ve been doing... We are really looking forward to the challenge, our players are certainly ready for this opportunity.”
Fort Lauderdale enters this match after earning a 0-0 draw against USL League One leaders Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in its last game. This Saturday’s clash will be the fourth matchup between Fort Lauderdale and FC Tucson this season. The teams first met earlier this season in May, which saw Fort Lauderdale come out victorious in a 5-1 win. Since then, Tucson defeated Fort Lauderdale in the last two matches between the clubs in July and August.
FC Tucson is aiming to continue its own unbeaten streak, earning points in its previous four matches. Most recently, Tuscon tied 1-1 against North Texas SC on Sept. 4. Forward Deri Corfe scored the match's equalizer in the 81st minute, saving his team the point. Goalkeeper Wallis Lapsley sits tied in second place in the league for the most saves at 56.
Tucson currently sits in fifth place in the USL League One standings with 26 points, recording seven wins, eight losses and five draws to date in the 2021 season. Fort Lauderdale CF, meanwhile, is in fourth place with 26 points, with a record of seven wins, nine losses and five draws so far this campaign. Additionally, Fort Lauderdale has scored the most goals in the league with 31, while Tucson sits tied for third place with 28 goals.
