Fort Lauderdale CF fell 2-3 against Union Omaha in a highly contested midweek matchup on Wednesday night. The team’s goals were scored by midfielder Eduardo Sosa and 15-year-old winger Felipe Valencia. The USL League One matchup at Inter Miami CF Stadium kicked off at 8 p.m. ET and aired live on ESPN+.
Union Omaha opened the scoring in the 25th minute of play; forward Evan Conway headed the ball over the defensive line to free up winger Austin Panchot after a long ball from the goalkeeper. Panchot then slotted a left-footed shot in a one-on-one action to give the visitors a 0-1 lead.
Fort Lauderdale, however, was able to equalize before the end of the first half. In the 42nd minute, left back Sami Guediri played a pass to Sosa on the left wing. Sosa then cut into the middle before unleashing a right footed strike that deflected off of a defender before finding the back of the net to tie the match 1-1. It was Sosa’s second goal of the season after scoring in the team’s last match and Guediri’s second assist for the team. Both Sosa and Guediri were coming into the match with positive momentum on their side, as both players were named to the USL Team of the Week for their outstanding performances in Fort Lauderdale’s previous two matches over the past week.
In the second half the visitors once again struck first, with Union Omaha forward Conway scoring in the 48th minute after finding a loose ball inside the box following a corner kick to give his side a 1-2 lead.
Seven minutes later, Fort Lauderdale was able to find the equalizing goal once again, this time through a strike by 15-year-old winger Valencia. A free kick executed by Guediri from the right side of the box was rejected by the Union Omaha goalkeeper; Valencia then collected the ball in the center of the box before finishing the play with a right-footed shot to tie the match 2-2 in the 55th minute. It was the second goal of the season for the Inter Miami CF Academy product.
Fort Lauderdale continued to attack in search of the winning goal, but Omaha regained its lead in the 84th minute with a goal by winger Ethan Vanacore-Decker. In the end the visitors won the match 2-3.
Fort Lauderdale will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 3, when the team travels to Arlington, Texas, to take on North Texas SC.
