Fort Lauderdale CF wrapped up its 2021 USL League One campaign with a 1-2 win on the road against Toronto FC II on Friday afternoon at BMO Training Ground.
The first shot attempt on target for either team came at the 17-minute mark with a corner kick executed by defender Noah Allen, finding Modesto Mendez near the goalpost for a header, and a follow-up attempt that was ultimately denied.
Moments later, Toronto FC II countered the initial offensive threat by Fort Lauderdale as Julian Altobelli dropped a pass into the box, with teammate Paul Rothrock finding the ball and space to deliver an assist to Kobe Franklin, who then opened the scoring for the match and established a 1-0 lead for the home team.
At the 31-minute mark, Fort Lauderdale’s Romeo Beckham stepped up to take a free kick from the left half space, curling a shot that missed just wide of the near post. Just one minute later, Beckham whipped a powerful cross from the right wing that struck the near post, falling to the feet of Shaan Hundal in front of goal. The forward instinctively struck the ball through the legs of a defender and found the back of the net to tie the game for Fort Lauderdale before halftime. The goal was Hundal’s 10th of the campaign.
Carrying momentum into the second half, Fort Lauderdale’s pressure would mount up to another lethal play set up by Braxton Najib locating Hundal near the edge of the box, as the forward wound his left foot back and struck the ball just beyond the goalkeeper’s fingertips and inside the post to secure a 1-2 lead for his team. Hundal’s second goal of the day added to his team-leading tally, taking him to 11 goals scored this season. Hundal’s 11 goals also place him tied for fourth among highest scorers in League One.
Toronto FC II responded to their deficit by executing multiple attacks in the remaining minutes of the match, with hopes of finding a second goal of their own. Franklin and Garrett McLaughlin remained active offensively for the home team, but goalkeeper Drake Callender gathered a total of six saves in the match that secured the final victory of the season for the team in white.
The victory marked the close of Fort Lauderdale CF’s second season. In 2021, the team once again saw players of varying experience - including Inter Miami CF Academy registered players, professionals signed to Fort Lauderdale CF, and Inter Miami CF players on loan with the team - come through the system and receive professional experience.
