Louisville City make one change from their victory over Austin FC, Carlos Moguel comes in for Sean Totsch after picking up a knock. Sporting Jax make 2 changes from their defeat against Detroit City, Edgardo Rito and Dida Armstrong replace Mohamed Traore and Kieran Sadlier, Sadlier starting from the bench.

Sporting Jax would get the first chance from the resumption of play post protest winning a corner off Kyle Adams. Thomas Roberts corner would go through the crowd in the six yard box, the second phase ending when Dida Armstrong’s looping shot fell right to Hugo Fauroux. 3 minutes later Louisville City would win a free kick after Brem Soumaoro caught Taylor Davila late. The ball would be rotated to Manny Perez, his effort blocked. Jake Morris would put a second phase ball into the box, but it looped right to Christian Olivares.

4 minutes later would come Sporting Jax’s only chance of the first half. Dida Armstrong would win the ball in the midfield and play a counter attacking 1-2 with Thomas Roberts. Armstrong would get a clear sight of goal 20 yards out and put a bending effort to the far post. There was only one problem with that, the ball never bent. The shot went on a straight line out at the far post for a goal kick.

From there it would again become the Christian Olivares show. The 13th minute would see Zach Duncan beat Soumaoro in midfield and go on the run, his shot from 25 taking a deflection off the diving fingertips of Olivares for a corner. 9 minutes later Olivares had to come up tall again when Louisville City moved forward with pace. Taylor Davila would set up Ray Serrano, who would find Tolo Showunmi 20 yards out. His shot would again require a diving save by Olivares to deny. The resulting corner would see Carlos Moguel get unmarked at the far post, but he would be unable to turn his header from Evan Davila’s cross into a goal.

The 29th minute would see another Olivares moment of brilliance to keep the game scoreless. The brothers Davila would partner up, Evan finding Taylor 25 yards out, his shot far post denied on a short hop by the Sporting Jax keeper for a corner. 10 minutes later would see Louisville City beat Olivares when Showunmi would find Evan Davila. Davila would beat Antonio Gomez and go for goal from 20 yards out, only Ryan Edwards head keeping it out of the back of the net. Going into halftime, Sporting Jax again didn’t register a shot on target, but Christian Olivares antics in goal kept the game scoreless.

The second half started much like the first, Louisville City with plenty of possession with nothing to show for it. Twice in a 7 minute spell Louisville City would have possession for naught. The second would come in the 52nd minute, one that resulted in a third phase that ended when Manny Perez sprung Tola Showunmi, his chip over Olivares looked to find the net if not for the late intervention of Harvey Neville. Neville’s goal line clearance again kept the scoreline 0-0.

Harvey Neville would come up tall again 5 minutes later when Manny Perez again would find Showunmi unmarked. With Showunmi looking to get a better shot on goal, Neville would get back in time to put a touch on the shot, allowing Olivares to easily collect a trickling ball instead of a blast on goal. That would be Tola Showunmi’s last act as Simon Bird rang a forward line triple change bringing Mukwelle Akale, Chris Donovan and Jansen Wilson on for Ray Serrano, Evan Davila and Tola Showunmi.

Jansen Wilson only needed a minute to get involved, a one timer from an Akale pass bending late, but wide of the far post. That would get Liam Fox to start making move, a 67th minute change saw Wahab Ackwei on for Edgardo Rito before a 70th minute change that saw Kieran Sadlier on for Thomas Roberts. Between the two Sporting Jax subs saw Antonio Gomez join Ryan Edwards in the book for a late clip on Mukwelle Akale.

Louisville City would get their best set piece chance 10 minutes from time when Wahab Ackwei caught Jansen Wilson late 20 yards out earning the hosts a free kick. Ackwei would see the book for the challenge. Mukwelle Akale and Jansen Wilson would stand over the ball, Akale taking the free kick that would go off the wall. Jansen Wilson’s second chance would also go off the wall and out for a throw-in clearing the danger.

4 minutes later Dida Armstrong was fortunate to stay on the pitch. In a rare moment forward for Sporting Jax Kieran Sadlier would get the ball from Emil Jaaskelainen on the left and put a cross into the box. The ball would be cleared by Kyle Adams, but the target of the cross Dida Armstrong would go full send into the legs of Hugo Fauroux. While Hugo Fauroux needed extended treatment, Daniel Faundez at least warming up in case he was needed, Dida Armstrong would see only a yellow card. If the color of the card was red I wouldn’t have had any complaints.

But alas, all the Sporting Jax defending didn’t account for their half-hearted chances forward. All it takes is one in this game and Louisville City took it with a minute left of second half stoppage time. From the midfield Babacar Niang, on for Zach Duncan to start stoppage time, would find Jake Morris. Morris would immediate find Jansen Wilson, who needed one touch to beat Wahab Ackwei and go far post. With Olivares glued to the near post the finish was a guarantee, to the relief of those on the pitch and stands.

It’s beyond obvious Sporting Jax cannot attack. Doing so leaves them so perilously caught out defensively. For all the right moves Mark Warburton got right putting the Super League side together he got them totally wrong in equal measure on the Championship side. This is the second straight game Sporting Jax had 0 shots on target, and have only had 1 in the last 3 games since the formation change. I don’t see this team making any improvements any time soon, a team that will make a run at Las Vegas Lights 2023 and Miami FC 2024 at one of the worst teams in USL history. Something has to change fast, but with the current squad I don’t see that happening. I feel for Christian Olivares, he’s having to learn way too many bad habits in goal.

Sporting Jax return to the field in their first USL Cup match April 25th as part of a 2nd double header at Hodges Stadium. Their game against Miami FC currently scheduled to kick at 7:30 pm.

But as the club enters the frantic final stages of the 2025/26 season, a glaring question remains: Is Allie Long the tactical answer for a playoff push, or is this a signing rooted more in nostalgia than current form? Especially when Fort Lauderdale has run off several effective players in the last few months, a few of whom are making impacts for the clubs Gainbridge USL Super League rivals.

Long was a brilliant technical player in her day. Incisive in her ability to spot a pass and then play that ball into dangerous positions, she’s a legend in Portland for her early NWSL years success pairing with the likes of all-time legends Christine Sinclair and Alex Morgan. She was a great young player in the last years for WPS for SkyBlue and then did alright at PSG. But that was a long time ago…

Long with the USWNT in 2016/photo by Soccerfan1996 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50629147

The Weight of the “Veteran” Label

The press release from Fort Lauderdale leans heavily on words like “pedigree,” “leadership,” and “standard.” While there is no denying Long’s glittering resume—three NWSL titles and 51 international caps—the reality of professional soccer is often less kind to players in the twilight of their careers.

At 38 years old, Long is entering a league that demands high-intensity transitions and quick counter-attacking moves… especially when you consider how FTL United is built and has tended to play with the ball.

While General Manager Aly Hassan describes her as “world-class,” the version of Allie Long that dominated the midfield for the Portland Thorns a decade ago is a distant memory. For a team pushing for a playoff spot, the margin for error is razor-thin, and relying on a player whose peak occurred in the late 2010s is a significant risk. If in fact the goal of this signing is to push for a playoff spot.

Long as a 8/10 in earlier years - this is photo is from WPS days! credit: kkimphotography

The Problem of Match Fitness

Perhaps more concerning than her age is Long’s recent lack of competitive minutes. Since departing Gotham FC in 2023, her time on the pitch has been sporadic at best.

• The Gap: Transitioning from a year of relative inactivity straight into the “final stages” of a high-stakes season is a tall order for any athlete.

• The Pace: The Gainbridge Super League is proving to be a physical, fast-paced environment- especially given how Fort Lauderdale has tried to play in transition moments. There is a legitimate concern that by the time Long finds her “game legs,” the season may already be over.

Branding vs. Results

Founder Tommy Smith noted that Long’s presence “changes things” for the academy girls. In terms of community building and brand recognition, he’s right. Having a household name in the locker room is a boon for jersey sales and local visibility. It’s also an inspiration for local girls who may want to join the academy and aspire to be a USWNT player.

The Bottom Line

Fort Lauderdale United FC is clearly betting that Long’s “incisive passing” and “championship DNA” (Long’s last match with Portland was a virtual rugby match where she helped muck up the midfield to beat North Carolina and win the NWSL title in 2017) can compensate for her lack of recent match rhythm.

It is a high-reward strategy if she can orchestrate the midfield from a stationary position, but a high-risk one if the opposition decides to run right through her.

As the club chases a playoff berth, we will quickly see if Allie Long is the final piece of a puzzle to turn this increasingly lost season around or a legacy signing that arrived too late.

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First Half: DC Capitalizes on Key Moments

The match began with high energy, as Tampa Bay goalkeeper Emory Wegener was forced into action just five minutes in. Wegener made a diving stop to deny a low-driven strike from DC’s Alyssa Walker, setting the tone for a busy night between the posts.

However, DC Power found their rhythm midway through the half:

• 18th Minute: Following a swift counterattack, Loza Abera found Alyssa Walker in space. Walker unleashed a high, arching strike from outside the box that tucked into the bottom left corner to open the scoring.

• 24th Minute: Former Sun defender Paige Almendariz haunted her old squad, delivering a precise cross into the box. Dasia Torbert rose above the defense to power a header into the bottom right corner, doubling the DC lead in quick succession. I noted Almendariz had a poor match on Monday in Fort Lauderdale but she bounced back in a big way at her old haunts on Saturday.

Tampa Bay nearly responded in the 28th minute when Sydny Nasello broke free on the right side, but her close-range effort drifted agonizingly wide before being cleared by the DC defense.

Second Half: The Search for a Breakthrough

The second half saw Tampa Bay throw numbers forward in a desperate attempt to claw back into the game. The Sun dominated possession and created a highlight reel of “what-if” moments:

• The Woodwork Denies Giammona: In the 58th minute, Carlee Giammona launched a thunderous shot from the right wing that beat the keeper but slammed against the crossbar, drawing a collective gasp from the home crowd.

• Aerial Assault: Minutes later, Sandrine Gaillard met a Sabrina McNeill cross with a powerful header, but DC keeper Makenna Gottschalk was perfectly positioned to make the save.

• Late Pressure: Faith Webber and Taylor Chism continued to pepper the DC goal with attempts from set pieces and distance, but the clinical finishing that defined the Sun’s earlier season successes remained elusive.

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As we discussed on Thursday in our match preview I felt Oakland under Ryan Martin, a manager who has frustrated the Rowdies in the past, had a chance to sneak a result.

A High-Octane Opening

The match ignited within the first 180 seconds. Tampa Bay’s Russell Cicerone unleashed a blistering long-range effort that proved too hot to handle for Oakland keeper Kendall McIntosh. Marco Micaletto was quickest to the rebound, poaching the opening goal in just the third minute.

The Rowdies nearly doubled their advantage five minutes later when MD Myers rattled the woodwork, but the missed opportunity proved costly. In the 12th minute, Oakland found their first equalizer. Wolfgang Prentice sent a dangerous low cross into the area that was inadvertently turned into the net by Rowdies defender Charlie Ostrem for an own goal.

Back-and-Forth at the Break

Just as the first half seemed destined to end level, the Rowdies struck again. On the stroke of halftime, Dion Acoff sent a deep, searching cross from the right wing to the back post. Russell Cicerone was there to meet it, buried his second goal of the campaign and restoring the hosts’ lead heading into the tunnel.

Oakland’s response after the interval was immediate and clinical. Four minutes into the second half, Prentice showcased a moment of individual brilliance. Controlling a long ball with expert skill while simultaneously eluding his marker, Wolfgang Prentice lifted a delicate finish over the advancing goalkeeper to level the score at 2-2. It was his third goal of the young season and arguably his most impressive.

Bottom Line

The Rowdies’ pursuit of a perfect opening month fell just short. While they dictated much of the play and showed clinical finishing early on, the inability to defend leads will be a point of emphasis for the coaching staff. Does Austin Park come back in to replace Jamali Waite? I don’t think so, but the defense did look more organized with Pack between the sticks. The other negative takeaway would be that for the first time this season, Lewis Hilton looked his age today.

Nevertheless, remaining unbeaten through the early stretch of the season provides a solid foundation to build upon.

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Thanks to everyone for following along. Have a great rest of your weekend!

FULLTIME: Fort Lauderdale United 1 Sporting Jax 4. Sporting Jax started fast, finished faster and when Fort Lauderdale pulled one back snapped out of it and made sure Fort Lauderdale didn’t get into the final third the rest of the afternoon.

It is such a contrast to see a side that, for as tough as the growing pains were in the first 2 months of the season you could see what they were trying to do. Now that the side has come together, they look like they could complete the Super League Double. Sporting Jax’s 20 points in 8 matches wins the Battle of the Florida Triangle.

90 from Fort Lauderdale: 3 minutes of 2nd half stoppage time from Sporting Jax’s 14 regualr season win.

93 from Detroit: Last chance long throw for Sporting Jax from Mohamed Traore, cleared by Amoo-Mensah and that’s that.

FULL TIME: Detroit City 1 Sporting Jax 0. Detroit City with not their best shooting effort but they didn’t have to. I’ll catch strays from the club but I don’t care, Sporting Jax were pathetic today. Couldn’t hold the ball, passes were awful and they didn’t even attempt to play football until the last 10 minutes of the game. I don’t care what the ‘stats’ say. There was only one shot in 90 minutes of action. It’s incredible to say a team has gotten worse since preseason…Sporting Jax’s Championship side have.

The 5,379 at Keyworth got to see Detroit City not have to do much defensively, saw plenty of shots and are walking out of there wondering how the game wasn’t 3 or 4 nil.

89 from Detroit: Aedan Stanley concedes a corner from a Sporting Jax ball into the box, but a Sporting Jax foul on the corner ends the danger. 3 minutes of 2nd half stoppage time in Detroit as Connor Rutz picks up a yellow card, Sporting Jax getting a 2nd chance on a free kick that got their first shot of the night. This one ends up in the mitts of Carlos Herrera.

75 from Fort Lauderdale: A summary of the subs since Sporting Jax made it 4-1.

Caroline Murray also came on for Parker Roberts when Pennock replaced DeSmith. Abby Boyan has now replaced Ashlyn Puerta.

Fort Lauderdale United: Daniella Todd for Emily Thompson, Sophie Harding for Kiera Locklear and Kate Colvin for Maggie Mace.

85: Sporting Jax FINALLY WITH A SHOT. Free kick whipped into Jaaskelainen, his header to Ahmad Al-Qaq (on for Antonio Gomez) is the first shot of record today and Carlos Herrera sees it go wide.

Could Sporting Jax pick up another road smash and grab point? I mean it’s not likely but so was the point in Rhode Island.

81 from Detroit: Double sub for Detroit City. Aedan Stanley and Connor Rutz on for Jeciel Cedeno and Abdoulaye Diop.

Darren Smith gets 1 v 1 with Olivares again and it takes a kick save and a beauty by Olivares to keep the score 1-0.

75 from Detroit City: Cedeno takes advantage of the pick pocket at the top of the attacking third and finds Darren Smith cutting into the 18. Olivares reacts well to the shot to deny.

Abdoulaye Diop down getting treatment. A sub I did miss was Dida Armstrong coming on for Kieran Sadlier. Jacob Evans comes on for Jordan Rossiter before play gets underway.

61 from Fort Lauderdale: Emily Thompson best Kacey Smekrud, goes to ground with the touch and wins a free kick 30 from goal. The resulting free kick and corner though wasted.

64 from Fort Lauderdale: GOAL SPORTING JAX: Paige Kenton beats Maggie Mace with pace, gets to the end line and her shot near post is saved by Haley Craig. The shot then deflects off Shea Moyer for the own goal. Fort Lauderdale United 1 Sporting Jax 4.

Jade Pennock replaces Baylee DeSmit post goal.

71 from Detroit City: Plenty of shots from Detroit City, nothing actually worth discussing as field goals only count in Gaelic Football, not association football.

65 from Detroit: Harvey Neville into the book for his foul on Ates Diouf.

3 minutes later Chisom Egbuchulam comes on for Alex Dalou.

57 from Fort Lauderdale: GOAL FORT LAUDERDALE. Kiara Locklear gets past Parker Roberts and finds Sh’nia Gordon wide wide open. Flag stays down as Parks’s attempt to come out is for naught and Gordon has an easy finish with pace. First real mistake of the night from Sporting Jax and Fort Lauderdale respond. Fort Lauderdale United 1 Sporting Jax 3

We’ve seen Fort Lauderdale score plenty of goals in bunches before this season, they got another one in them?

63: What is this, Sporting Jax getting forward? Well yes, but Callum Montgomery picks the pocket to clear the pocket inside the 18.

Detroit City then on the counter take another 20-30 seconds off the clock before a cross towards Cedeno results in Cedeno picking up the whistle for a foul.

50 from Fort Lauderdale GOAL SPORTING JAX: Hughes to Grace Phillpotts, her cross sees Laveni Vaka clear it for a corner. Frustration starting to show for the hosts but Vaka had no choice. From the corner, DeSmit beats Thompson to the first ball…and the second. The shot wasn’t clean at all, but Craig couldn’t see it through the traffic allowing the end result to be in at the far post. Fort Lauderdale United 0 Sporting Jax 3.

If my mental math is correct, I believe the magic number now for Sporting Jax to win the Players’ Shield is 9 pending Lexington’s match with Carolina Ascent tonight.

56 from Detroit: Ryan Edwards with the hold up of Cedeno and frankly if he wasn’t on a yellow it was a yellow. Referee gave the ‘final warning’ talk which honestly should have been a yellow.

Edgardo Rito comes on for Brem Soumaoro. Might need to find a replacement for Edwards stat.

47 from Fort Lauderdale: Puerta to DeSmit forces Craig into a point blank save and her second effort goes wide. Sporting Jax picking up where just like they started the first half. Another goal likely finishes this off as a contest.

51 from Detroit: Ball played to Darren Smith and back to Alex Dalou, Dalou’s blast right to Olivares. Dalou picks a corner and it’s 2-0. Cedeno offside on the follow-up.

10 shots so far for Detroit City. Still waiting for anything that would qualify as an attack from Sporting Jax…55 minutes in. Diuof turns Roberts and puts a shot wide from Kobe Hernandez’s foster pass. Make that 11 shots now for Detroit City.

2nd half underway from Fort Lauderdale.

Second half underway at Keyworth. 11 seconds shown of the first minute of the half, 30 total out of the 120 for the protest. No changes made by either side at halftime.

Considering Sporting Jax had 0s across the board that’s a bit alarming.

HALFTIME: Fort Lauderdale United 0 Sporting Jax 2: 2 in 11 for Sporting Jax made their early pressure pay off. Fort Lauderdale United have had a few foray’s forward only to either go well wide or right to Kaitlyn Parks.

One story I apologize for not realizing sooner is how aware Parks is of where the ball is at all times. There’s a reason I end up saying alot shot right to Parks…because she’s already anticipated where the shot’s going.

HALFTIME: Detroit City 1 Sporting Jax 0. An early Darren Smith goal allowed Detroit City to quickly settle, and have bossed the game since. Sporting Jax have frankly been 5th best in a 2 team contest. Only thing Detroit City is going to rue is not putting anything else on target. We’ve seen Sporting Jax only need 1 chance in Rhode Island. If Detroit City think they can coast from here it might come back to haunt them.

39 from Fort Lauderdale: Kiara Locklear with plenty of room to run central from the left. Finally Meg Hughes with a challenge that forces Locklear out of options but to rush a shot on goal that was harmlessly wide.

43 from Detroit: Add Ryan Edwards to the book, running right through Jeciel Cedeno without any play on the ball.

Why is it that any game I watch from Keyworth all I want to do is find some Stroh’s and join AlumniFi credit union?

38 from Detroit: Corner for Detroit City, Kobe Hernandez-Foster ball in gets a little assist to Devon Amoo-Mensah, who rushed the shot and it ends up well wide.

33 from Fort Lauderdale: Another Sporting Jax corner where Parker Roberts goes wide of goal.

29 from Fort Lauderdale: Ashlyn Puerta goes to ground twice inside the box, gets up the first time and on the second wins a corner. From the corner, Smekrud with just enough hesitation for Haley Craig to collect.

We sure they just didn’t hit play from the game 4 weeks ago?

31 from Detroit: Haruki Yamazaki, the one who won the foul that saw Jaaskelainen book, gets forward, finds Jeciel Cedeno…and Cedeno’s shot didn’t miss the far post by much.

25 from Fort Lauderdale: GOAL SPORTING JAX. After Puerta thought she had won at a penalty, the second phase ball see Meg Hughes beat Julia Grosso to get the space to put a cross into Paige Kenton. Kenton gets the right side of Abi Hugh to collect, and go for goal. The shot was rather tame but it still trickled over the line.

Off the restart, Smekrud’s header goes right to Emily Thompson, her shot again right at Parks.

19 from Fort Lauderdale: Fort Lauderdale with pace down the right sees the ball to Kiara Locklear. Her centering ball to Gordon cleared for a throw. Second phase of play sees Illig hold off Gordon at the end line for a goal kick.

Fort Lauderdale starting to get some chances forward.

27 from Detroit: Another Sporting Jax corner that Detroit gave up rather cheaply, but Sporting Jax give up an equally cheap foul inside the six and Detroit City can get back to daring Sporting Jax to have possession.

Not before Jeciel Cedeno tries a spectacular overhead kick that Darren Smith had to duck before being called offside.

Off that restart, Emil Jaaskelainen booked for some off the ball afters.

14 from Fort Lauderdale: GOAL SPORTING JAX! Kacey Smekrud’s ball rather casually headed by Maggie Mace right to Baylee DeSmit. DeSmit simply says thank you very much as she blasts it between Mace and Craig, Craig late leaning the wrong way at the time DeSmit shot it. Early pressure pays off for Sporting Jax. Fort Lauderdale United 0 SPORTING JAX 1

17 from Detroit: Dalou and Cedeno play a 1-2 to get forward, rotate the ball back to Kobe Hernandez-Foster. The ball into Darren Smith too deep and his desperation centering ball from the end line held by Olivares.

13 from Fort Lauderdale. Sh’nia Gordon gets 1 v 1 with Parker Roberts, gets Roberts to ground, but her near post shot goes right to the waiting Kaitlyn Parks on said post. First effort between the sticks this afternoon goes to Fort Lauderdale United.

14 from Detroit: Alex Dalou at the center of the action early and takes one from Thomas Roberts. That challenge got a talking to.

Meanwhile in Fort Lauderdale, it feels like an extension so far of the 90 minutes 4 weeks ago. A far post cross by Meg Hughes towards Kacey Smekrud too deep and out for a goal kick.

GOAL DETROIT CITY 1 Sporting Jax 0. Abdoulaye Diop takes Alex Dalou won second ball and blasts on goal forcing Christian Olivares into the tip over for a corner. Kobe Hernandez Foster’s ball deep finds Callum Montgomery, his looping header back near post goes off the post. With Olivares to ground, DARREN SMITH cleans up from 3 yards out. Poor marking all around for Sporting Jax allowing Detroit City to get the sixth minute lead.

Meanwhile game on finally in Fort Lauderdale after the net is fixed and Sporting Jax win a corner within 30 seconds. Back post effort from Parker Roberts wide. Happy to see Parker Roberts getting her first start after injuring her ACL.

Game on at Keyworth, with a delay in Fort Lauderdale due to a fix needed on one of the nets. For those wondering, players were shown at Keyworth for 19 seconds during their ‘opening minute protest’. I suspect I’ll have another column come Tuesday about that subject.

Well, someone at USL HQ needs to get the leagues into a room and figure out that maybe, JUST MAYBE, someone would like to see both teams play in the same day and not have to make a choice. Seriously whomever decided to have both Sporting Jax Super League and Championship sides kick off at 4 pm needs to be reassigned. It isn’t even the first time it’s happened this year, just one of the two games was actually at home. Yes, I’d say the same for those who are stuck in the same situation in Lexington and Brooklyn as well.

Thanks to two screens and the need to save my sanity of avoiding spoilers I’m breaking out the live blog.

Let’s start with the Super League side. In Sporting Jax’s final Battle of the Florida Triangle fixture, which Sporting Jax won this year in a canter, they take on a Fort Lauderdale United side that finally broke their winless streak with a 3-1 win over DC Power. Fort Lauderdale is also going to want to rid the stink of the horrific 0-2 performance they had against Sporting Jax just 4 weeks ago where Haley Craig had the only performance of record for the hosts.

Sporting Jax will also be without Georgia Brown who is currently on Scotland National team duty.

As for the Championship side, welcome to Hamtramck and the caldron that is Keyworth Stadium. Both wins for Detroit City so far this season have come at home against a lackluster Brooklyn FC and a Charleston Battery side that last week beat Louisville City at Lynn Family Stadium. Needless to say they expect the home streak to continue this week against a Sporting Jax side still trying to figure out a formation, identity and who the right starting eleven are.

Speaking of those lineups:
Fort Lauderdale United: 30 Haley Craig – 27 Julia Grosso 47 Maggie Mace 5 Laveni Vaka 16 Abi Hugh – 8 Shea Moyer 11 Sh’nia Gordon – 29 Kelli Van Treeck 23 Taylor Smith 10 Emily Thompson – 20 Kiara Locklear BENCH 31 Bella Hara 34 Jules Cagle 37 Blane McElroy 35 Daniela Todd 22 Kate Colvin 9 Sophie Harding 40 Alana Yasuda
Sporting Jax: 13 Kaitlyn Parks – 21 Maggie Illig 2 Parker Roberts 24 Grace Phillpotts – 33 Kacey Smekrud 3 Sophia Boman 8 Sophie Jones 19 Ashlyn Puerta 10 Meg Hughes – 27 Paige Kenton 17 Baylee DeSmit BENCH 1 Jamie Gerstenberg 22 Zara Siassi 9 Abby Boyan 6 Jessie Hunt 11 Andrea Fernandez 12 Caroline Murray 7 Jade Pennock

Detroit City: 1 Carlos Herrera – 14 Haruki Yamazaki 30 Devon Amoo-Mensah 4 Callum Montgomery 33 Tommy Silva – 22 Kobe Hernandez-Foster 15 Alex Dalou – 10 Jeciel Cedeno 8 Abdoulaye Diop 32 Ates Diouf – 7 Darren Smith BENCH 91 Carlos Saldana 20 Rio Hope-Gund 3 Aedan Stanley 2 Rhys Williams 21 Maxi Rodriguez 11 Connor Rutz 26 Chisom Egbuchulam
Sporting Jax: 31 Christian Olivares – 22 Antonio Gomez 15 Ryan Edwards 99 Mohamed Traore – 2 Harvey Neville 32 Brem Soumaoro 6 Jordan Rossiter 3 Tyshawn Rose – 24 Thomas Roberts 16 Emil Jaaskelainen 10 Kieran Sadlier BENCH 42 Esteban Casas 18 Wahab Ackwei 12 Edgardo Rito 11 Ahmad Al Qaq 77 Dida Armstrong 26 Luc Granitur

Comments are open, all are welcome.

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The loss halts Tampa Bay’s momentum following their first two-game winning streak of the season and shifts their all-time record against the Charlotte-based side to 2-3-2.

A High-Pressure Atmosphere

Easter Sunday provided a demanding backdrop for the contest. The afternoon heat added a layer of fatigue to an already intense environment, as physical play frequently led to heated exchanges between players and officials.

The Sun nearly ignited the home crowd in the opening minutes when Sydny Nasello whipped a signature cross into the box. Faith Webber rose above the defense for a powerful header, but the attempt drifted agonisingly wide of the left post—a sign of the “near-miss” theme that would haunt Tampa Bay throughout the afternoon.

Carolina Capitalizes

The deadlock was broken in the 29th minute following a defensive lapse. Sun midfielder Sandrine Gaillard was whistled for a foul after pulling back Shea Groom inside the area. Carolina’s Jill Aguilera stepped up to the spot, calmly slotting a left-footed strike into the bottom right corner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Tampa Bay goalkeeper Liz Beardsley kept the Sun within striking distance with a spectacular fingertip save against Tyler Lussi late in the half, but Carolina found their cushion during stoppage time. In the 47th minute, following a corner kick and a headed flick from Lussi, Lily Nabet found herself unmarked in the six-yard box. Nabet’s composed touch doubled the lead just seconds before the whistle.

The Maddy Parsons Push

The second half saw the Sun transition into an aggressive, high-pressing system. While Faith Webber and Sydny Nasello continued to threaten—including a dangerous 68th-minute strike from Webber that sailed high—the breakthrough finally arrived through the “relentless energy” of Madison Parsons.

After a long-range warning shot in the 75th minute, Parsons delivered in the 89th. Set up by Vivianne Bessette, Parsons drove a clinical right-footed shot into the bottom left corner, cutting the lead to 2-1 and setting off a deafening roar from the Suncoast Credit Union Field faithful.

With the clock winding down, Tampa Bay threw numbers forward, pinning Carolina into their own defensive third. However, Carolina goalkeeper Sydney Martínez and a disciplined backline held firm against the barrage of crosses.

The loss leaves the Sun eleven points short of the last playoff spot with six matches remaining to play. Not impossible but highly unlikely to make that up.

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Sporting Jax Regain 4 Point Super League Lead Dismissing Brooklyn 2-0

In the curtain riser on double header Saturday, goals from Paige Kenton and Sophia Boman were more than enough for Sporting Jax to see off a physical test from Brooklyn FC 2-0.

Sporting Jax had to survive the opening 10 minutes again, as Brooklyn FC took the hosts to school on their own kickoff. Kaitlyn Parks was called into action twice in the opening minute, the second from a Hope Bresline ball into the box that bent far post where Parks turned it out for a corner while falling into net. It would be Brooklyn’s best chance in the opening stanza and it ended from a corner that ping ponged out for a goal kick.

Sporting Jax would come into the game in the 12th minute when Ashlyn Puerta would win a free kick 20 from goal. Sophia Boman’s ball into the box would be met by Baylee DeSmit, her header forcing Kelsey Dougherty into a punch for a corner, one that Sporting Jax wasted.

5 minutes later Sporting Jax would be in front. From a high offside call, the ball would be played back to Parks. Her ball would be won by DeSmit to Puerta, Puerta’s pass getting Paige Kenton behind Jordan Thompson. Dougherty cut the near post off but Kenton went far, a free shot finding the twine for a Sporting Jax 1-0 lead.

An injury to Mylena Freitas 9 minutes from halftime would see Jess Garziano join the fray, the game bogging down in the midfield after the goal. Sporting Jax would get a late first half stoppage time change from DeSmit, her shot blocked by Thompson.

Sporting Jax started the second half fast, Ashlyn Puerta picking the pocket of Jennifer Cudjoe 3 minutes in and seeing Cudjoe pick up the professional holding back yellow card. The 51st minute would see the first real danger of the half when Sophia Boman found Grace Phillpotts on the left, the centering ball to Paige Kenton was behind the Sporting Jax forward allowing Brooklyn to clear.

2 minute later Brooklyn would get their first chance of the half winning a corner off Kenton. Jess Garziano’s corner would find Rylan Childers only to head right to Kaitlyn Parks. It would be Childers last action of the game as Brooklyn in the 55th minute would bring Emma Loving and Leah Scarpps on for Rylan Childers and Hope Breslin.

The 5 minutes that defined the 2nd half would come in minutes 65-70. After Kacey Smekrud and Andrea Fernandez came on for Julia Lester and Baylee DeSmit, Brooklyn would get their first chance of half after Rebecca Cooke beat Grace Phillpotts to the end line. Cooke’s centering ball found Garziano, only to put her shot over the crossbar with Kaitlyn Parks beaten.

From the restart Sporting Jax made Brooklyn pay. Andrea Fernandez would play Kacey Smekrud on the right. Smekrud would find Ashlyn Puerta who would return the ball to Fernandez. Fernandez would find an unmarked Paige Kenton, Kenton’s shot saved by Kelsey Dougherty. With the ball not held, the rebound would fall perfectly to Sophia Boman to blast home from 10 yards out. It was a team goal from Sporting Jax not seen in a while, but a goal that put the game out of reach at 2-0. The goal allowed some freedom to allow Abby Boyan to make her debut, replacing Ashlyn Puerta.

Brooklyn nearly made it interesting 16 minutes from time when Georgia Brown’s pass to Grace Phillpotts was intercepted by Emma Loving. Her touch going directly to Rebecca Cooke. Cooke would collect and go for goal from 20 yards out, only missing over the crossbar. Sporting Jax would see the game out from there.

With Georgia Brown missing the next 2 games due to Scotland World Cup Qualification, it will be about keeping the 4 point advantage heading into the game on April 25th against Lexington. Sporting Jax, it would be an embarrassment to your club if the game of the 2025-26 Gainbridge Super League regular season isn’t in the 7:30 pm time slot. The ladies deserve the main event.

Defensive Effort Comes Up Short as Evan Conway With Late Winner

Sporting Jax changed formations and with it came a change in fortune. A switch to a 3-5-2 turned 5-3-2 defensively and it sucked the life out of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Despite the life being sucked out of the Rowdies, the last attack forward for Tampa Bay proved fruitful as Evan Conway would come off the bench and score in the 5th minute of 2nd half stoppage time to remain undefeated 1-0 over Sporting Jax.

The first half had more physicality to it than the Jacksonville Sharks/Tampa Bay Storm games I attended in the old Arena Football League. Despite the physicality the referee let them play (sometimes too much), only calling 10 first half fouls and only showing 1 yellow card to Antonio Gomez. I think referee Servando Rico knew it was threatening to boil over at halftime, calling Lewis Hilton and Ryan Edwards over to send a message during the break. Brem Soumaoro would test the referee 2 minutes into the 2nd half and see the book for his hold on Max Schneider.

The first 17 minutes were only known for Austin Pack’s tight hamstring needing treatment and Rafferty Pedder going down to a non-contact injury when his chase of Nathan DosSantos ended with him going to ground. It would be a forced substitution with Thomas Roberts coming once it was determined Pedder couldn’t continue.

The 3 back set up for Sporting Jax forced Sporting Jax defensively to go in a 5-3-2 block. While Tampa Bay was getting passes forward, they were running into a brick wall at the top of the 18. It would take 25 minutes for the Rowdies to get a chance of substance, a Max Schneider long throw that Christian Olivares caught on the end line when Marco Micaletto mistimed his leap. 7 minutes later a quick passing sequence led to a 1-2 between Pedro Dollabella and Sebastian Cruz, Dollabella’s shot from 25 right to the Sporting Jax keeper.

The 33rd minute saw the first real chance of substance for Sporting Jax, a Kieran Sadlier tight angle shot Austin Pack had the cover of. 2 minutes later Emil Jaaskelainen thought he had won a penalty when he collected a Tyshawn Rose ball 10 yards out. He was wrong as Schneider timed his challenge perfectly to get the ball only. The 37th minute would see Jaaskelainen get clocked by DosSantos going for a throw in by the Sporting Jax bench.

Before halftime Sebastian Cruz would blast one off the near post from a long throw. 3 minutes after halftime, Marco Micaletto would take a pass from Dollabella in space and blast one off the crossbar from 25, Olivares well beaten on the Micaletto effort.

The best chance for Sporting Jax would come in the 61st minute, when a ball into the box was misplayed by Schneider right to Harvey Neville. Neville rushed the shot and put it wide of the far post. Despite the huffing and puffing from the Tampa Bay Rowdies, it looked like Sporting Jax would see it out for a draw.

That changed in the 5th minute of 2nd half stoppage time when the substitutes for Tampa Bay paid off. Louis Perez would start a 2nd phase sequence to Mattheus Oliveira who would play it to Cicerone and take off across the 18. The next pass would go to DosSantos who teed up Charlie Ostrem. His cross would find Evan Conway between two defenders for Sporting Jax and before Olivares could react the ball was in the back of the net. It’s a goal Sporting Jax handed Tampa Bay on a golden platter with as many passes allowed inside the final third.

Sporting Jax looked like they could hold out for 85 minutes, then the legs went. Traore and Gomez had to leave for 1 minute under new rules this year about players needing treatment on the pitch not being booked. From there the defensive shape was gone. Liam Fox might have something in terms of formation, but it’s still going to be plenty of work to shape this Championship side into something that can compete on both sides of the ball.

Up Next

Both sides are on the road next week with identical kickoff 4 pm kickoffs on April 11th. While Sporting Jax’s Super League side complete their Battle of the Florida Triangle series against Fort Lauderdale United, Sporting Jax’s Championship side will make the trek to Keyworth Stadium to play Detroit City.

Tickets Distributed
Sporting Jax v Brooklyn FC (Super League): 8,978

Sporting Jax v Tampa Bay Rowdies (Championship): 1,982

The victory comes just five days after a dominant 2-0 shutout against DC Power FC, signaling a massive shift in momentum for the Florida side as they find their rhythm in the Gainbridge Super League.

The match served as a masterclass in Head Coach Denise Schilte-Brown’s core philosophy: every player is an attacker. The scoring opened in the 29th minute through a clinical “three-player push” that carved through the Dallas defense.

Defender Sabrina McNeill initiated the sequence, feeding Maddie Pokorny on the wing. Pokorny’s precise cross found Faith Webber, who showed veteran composure by drawing the keeper out before unselfishly squaring the ball back to McNeill. Positioned perfectly on the goal line, McNeill tapped in her second goal of the season to give Tampa Bay the early lead.

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“Tonight was about resilience and belief,” said Coach Denise Schilte-Brown. “What stood out most was that we didn’t wait for the game to come to us. We went after it. That hunger... is something we’ve been building toward.”

While the Sun controlled much of the tempo—highlighted by a spectacular solo effort from Sydny Nasello in the 42nd minute that forced a diving save—the defense was tasked with absorbing heavy pressure.

Goalkeeper Emory Wegener proved to be the backbone of the effort. Her standout moment arrived in the 61st minute with a breathtaking double-save, first leaping to parry a high strike before immediately sliding to deflect a follow-up shot just seconds later.

However, the Sun faced a familiar shadow in the 76th minute. After a foul in the box by Vivianne Bessette, Dallas was awarded a penalty. Dallas’ Amber Wisner converted the chance into the top left corner; despite Wegener getting a hand to the ball, the equalizer brought the Cotton Bowl crowd to its feet.

With the match tied and momentum swinging toward Dallas, the Sun refused to settle for a draw. In the 85th minute, Forward Carlee Giammona reminded the league why she is one of the most dangerous opportunistic scorers in the game.

Capitalizing on a defensive lapse and a misplaced pass from the Dallas keeper, Giammona intercepted the ball deep in the penalty area. As she was losing her footing, she fired a sliding shot into the bottom left corner, ending a 14-game scoring drought and sealing the three points for Tampa Bay.

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The story of the night belonged to midfielder Kat González, who scored her first goal for Fort Lauderdale against her former club to secure a vital point on the road. But for me the best player on the pitch was Fort Lauderdale’s debudant, local product Emily Thompson. Signed during the week, the American Heritage product looked calm and incisive in her play.

Defensive Resilience Keeps the Slate Clean

The first half was a showcase of defensive grit from Fort Lauderdale. Despite early pressure from the hosts, the visitors’ attack looked sharp. In the 14th minute, a combination play between Kiara Locklear, Jasmine Hamid, and Sh’nia Gordon nearly broke the deadlock, but Gordon’s effort was parried over the bar by Carolina’s Sydney Martinez.

At the other end, goalkeeper Haley Craig continued her stellar form. Following a turnover in a dangerous area at the 33-minute mark, Craig made a crucial stop to deny Shay Groom . The half ended in dramatic fashion when captain Sh’nia Gordon made a goal-line clearance in stoppage time to ensure the teams went into the locker rooms scoreless.

Second Half

The intensity ramped up in the second period. Interim Head Coach Paul Jennison made a strategic shift at the half, bringing on Julia Grosso for rookie Maggie Mace, who had played a dominant defensive game before receiving a yellow card.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 64th minute. After Haley Craig had kept the game level with an improbable double save just minutes earlier Carolina was awarded a penalty. Mia Corbin stepped up and clinically found the top left corner to give the Ascent a 1-0 lead

The Equalizer and the “Shrug”

Refusing to leave empty-handed, Fort Lauderdale pressed for an equalizer. The breakthrough came via a brilliant run down the right flank by Gordon. She sent a cross into the box for Locklear, who showed great vision to lay the ball back for the trailing Kat González.

González met the pass with a first-time, right-footed strike into the bottom left corner. Celebrating with her signature shrug, the midfielder silenced her former home crowd and brought Fort Lauderdale level.

The visitors nearly snatched a win on the final play of the game when Gordon found Locklear in the box, but the resulting header sailed just over the crossbar.

Key Takeaways

• Momentum Building: Fort Lauderdale earns an away point, the first since early December. It was also the first match since early December where Fort Lauderdale did not concede two or more goal.

• Brick Wall: Haley Craig’s performance was pivotal, highlighted by a massive double save that kept her team within striking distance

• Kat’s Revenge: Kat González’s first goal for the club couldn’t have come at a more poetic time or place.

What’s Next?

Fort Lauderdale United FC returns to Beyond Bancard Field on Monday, April 6, for their first home match in 23 days. They will face DC Power FC, looking to avenge a mid-week loss from earlier this season and continue their current points streak.

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Sporting Jax made 5 changes from their 4-2 defeat against Miami FC. Tyshawn Rose, Antonio Gomez, Wan Kuzain, Thomas Roberts and Kieran Sadlier were replaced in the lineup with Ryan Edwards, Zeke Soto, Brem Soumaoro and Ahmad Al-Qaq. Jordan Rossiter returned to the starting 11 having served a red card suspension against Miami FC.

It would be Sporting Jax that got the first chance of the night. From a 6th minute free kick, Raffery Pedder would play the ball wide to Ryan Edwards. Edwards’s header had reservations for Mohamed Traore, only his header to the near post was denied by a leaping Nico Campuzano.

A minute later Pittsburgh would be in front. The Riverhounds rotated the ball around the midfield before Bradley Sample played the ball into the box. Charles Ahl would be taken down, but Albert Dikwa was waiting behind. Using Ahl as a pick, Dikwa was able to generate enough space between Ryan Edwards and Dida Armstrong to go near post with a bullet, one Olivares had no chance to save. Again, it was shoddy defending from Sporting Jax that saw the Riverhounds easily go in front.

While Danny Griffin 14 minutes in nearly took Sam Bennett’s corner and Victor Sousa’s

deflection and doubled the advantage, the 27th minute would see Pittsburgh doubled their lead. Sam Bassett would collect the ball in midfield and make a solo run. Before Jordan Rossiter could track back into position Bassett would blast one from 30 yards out. No matter what Olivares did, he wasn’t saving it as it flew by him at pace. A goal of the week contender made it 2-0.

The 33rd minute would see Sporting Jax finally test goal again. Harvey Neville down the left would play a 1-2 with Rafferty Pedder. The Neville cross would be found by the head Emil Jaaskelainen. Make no mistake about it, Campuzano was beaten, but Beto Ydarch wasn’t. The Riverhound defender timed his header perfectly to place it off the crossbar and keep Sporting Jax scoreless. 8 minutes later Jaaskelainen would get another chance from a Rafferty Pedder free kick, one he put well over the bar.

Thomas Roberts would replace Zeke Soto to start the 2nd half, Sporting Jax hoping to capitalize on the positives late in the first half. That wouldn’t last long. After Thomas Roberts would have a free kick 20 from goal blocked, Dikwa would bring Pittsburgh forward. Dikwa would play to Bassett, who’s ball into Bradley Sample was handled by Dida Armstrong. Armstrong missed the tackle and definitely handed the ball. Albert Dikwa started the sequence with his pass, and would finish the sequence by burying the penalty past Olivares. Olivares guessed right, but left enough space for the touch to go through as the Riverhounds made it 3-0 five minutes into the second half.

2 minutes from the hour Sporting Jax pulled their first back. From a corner kick Jaaskelainen won off Victor Souza, Thomas Roberts would play the ball in. Kieran Sadlier, on moments earlier for Ahmad Al-Qaq, would blast one from inside the D. The ball would ping pong in the box, finally settling to Mohamed Traore for the final touch into an empty net to make it 3-1.

2 minute after the hour Sporting Jax would try and make the final half hour a nervy affair for Pittsburgh. After Owen Mikoy conceded a Sporting Jax corner, Rafferty Pedder’s ball in was cleared. The ball would be recycled for Sporting Jax and on the fourth phase of play, Harvey Neville’s experience in the league came to good use as his hopeful long ball towards the 18 would bounce to the rushing Emil Jaaskelainen. Beto Ydarch would be late to the party and Jaaskelainen would go far post before Ydarch got back and caught Campuzano flat footed. In 4 minutes Sporting Jax gave themselves a chance at 3-2.

The last thing the league needs is this Pittsburgh side getting confidence in closing games out. That’s exactly what the final 30 minutes was. The best chance of the final half hour would come off the foot of Robbie Mertz with the last kick of the game as the Riverhounds would stifle Sporting Jax out of the game to pick up their second win of the season.

Liam Fox, you have a defending problem. I don’t think he has an idea who his best defenders are, and Harvey Neville isn’t one of them. To put it bluntly, if you want Neville’s crossing ability it’s time to put him in the midfield. I’ve seen some pretty bad defending in the Championship and Sporting Jax’s defensive structure, even giving a curve for being a first year club, is the worst I have ever seen in the Championship. You aren’t going to win games being Phoenix Rising 2025.

I don’t know how you figure out the lack of chemistry between most of this team. I hate saying it two games in a row, but I’m getting 2024 Miami FC vibes from this Sporting Jax bunch, and that frightens me.

Sporting Jax return home next Saturday, April 4th as part of a double header day for the club. The second leg of the Championship Battle of the Florida Triangle will take place against the Tampa Bay Rowdies with a 7:30 pm kick.

The win marks the third consecutive victory for the Green and Gold, keeping their record unblemished as they sit atop the early-season Eastern Conference standings (based on points-per-game).

Early Fireworks and Near Misses

The Rowdies wasted no time asserting their dominance, finding the back of the net in just the seventh minute. Following a corner kick from the right, a partial clearance by the Loudoun defense landed perfectly for Sebastian Cruz at the edge of the box. Cruz unleashed a spectacular, curling strike into the top-right corner, marking his first career goal in the USL Championship.

Tampa Bay nearly doubled their lead before the break. Pedro Dolabella rattled the crossbar with a powerful header at the 30-minute mark, and moments later, a goal-bound effort from Marco Micaletto was heroically cleared off the line by the United defense.

Quite frankly the Rowdies should have been three or four goals clear by halftime. Lewis Hilton was back to his silky best in the first half, showing both age and his injuries from last season have not diminished his quality.

A Back-and-Forth Second Half

Loudoun United showed signs of life immediately after the interval. Two minutes into the second half, Thorleifur Úlfarsson leveled the score with a moment of brilliance, curling a free kick from the top of the 18-yard box into the top-left corner.

However, the deadlock lasted only five minutes. In a stroke of luck for the hosts, Max Schneider fired a looping volley from 25 yards out that struck the crossbar and deflected off United goalkeeper Adam Beaudry for an own goal, restoring the Rowdies’ lead.

Closing the Door

The Rowdies put the match to bed in the 80th minute through clinical teamwork. MD Myers engaged in a slick give-and-go with Evan Conway, slicing through the defense before burying a shot from the right side of the penalty area to make it 3-1.

The mere fact that the Rowdies can bring Conway and Myers, two attackers that would start for just about any other USL Championship side off the bench speaks to the quality of depth of side.

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Sporting Jax made one change from their game against Dallas Trinity, Julia Lester moving into the midfield replacing Kacey Smekrud, who was relegated to the bench.

One thing Sporting Jax can’t seem to escape is playing in the wind. It would be another breezy night at Hodges Stadium, similar to the wind seen last week in Dallas. With the wind at their back in the first half, Sporting Jax would get a 3rd minute throw in that would be wind aided as it bounced towards the 18. Baylee DeSmit would beat her marker and get to the edge of the 18 before going for goal, right at Hope Hisey.

3 minutes later Spokane would test goal. Meg Hughes would lose the ball in the midfield and the ball would be played left to Tori Zierenberg. Zierenberg would beat Maggie Illig before crossing to Lena Silano, her header casually tracked by Parks as it went wide of the near post.

The 11th minute would be a warning sign for Sporting Jax. Hughes would lose the ball and again Zierenberg would push forward. Her pass to Sophia Braun would be heavy, but Parks would be unable to hold the ball. The ball would go right back to Zierenberg, and between two minds her touch would go right to a relieved Parks.

7 minutes later, Sporting Jax would give up their first goal in 390 minutes. Again it would be a lost ball in midfield that sprung Spokane forward, wide to Ginger Fontenot. Fontenot’s cross would beat the Sporting Jax raised arms as Felicia Knox was onside at the cross for the finish inside the 6. The pressure Sporting Jax was under the entire opening 15 minutes would be punished as Spokane deserved their goal to go 1-0 to the good.

That lead would last 4 minutes. From a throw, Sporting Jax would pass the ball along the left. Puerta and Hughes would play a 1-2 before Puerta would put a blast on goal. Hisey would get a touch to the ball, but the ball would deflect right to the waiting Sophia Boman, her redirect at the far post finding the twine to level.

The equalizer woke Sporting Jax up. The 27th minute would see Sophia Boman and Meg Hughes play keep away from a corner before Hughes’s cross would be met by Paige Kenton, the final touch too tall. 6 minutes later Boman would play the ball to Hughes off another corner, Hughes blast from 20 yards out would be deflected right to Baylee DeSmit. DeSmit’s touch would clear the keeper but also the bar.

4 minutes before halftime, Sporting Jax would again look dangerous from a corner. Meg Hughes would pick up an intercept ball and play it off Reese Tappin for a corner. From the 2nd phase ball off the corner Boman’s cross would be sent to Paige Kenton. Kenton and Hisey would meet and Hisey would miss the punch. If Georgia Brown was a step ahead it’s 2-1. Instead, Brown was unable to put that final touch in and the Spokane breathed the sigh of relief going into halftime as Sporting Jax awoke after the Spokane opener and were the one pushing for that second goal.

Sporting Jax would control the first 5 minutes of the 2nd half, a 4 phase sequence starting in the 49th minute highlighting that spell. After winning 2 corners, Sophia Jones backheel inside the box would be cleared for a throw. From the final phase, Hughes would play a 1-2 with Boman before crossing to Kenton, the final touch over the crossbar.

2 minutes later Lena Silano would get a clear shot on goal from a Haley Thomas cross. The shot would be blocked by 2 Sporting Jax defenders to clear the danger. It would take 11 minutes before Spokane would get forward again, winning consecutive corners in the process. The second of those corners would be sent right to Kaitlyn Parks to clear the danger.

The 64th minute would see Emma Jaskaniec booked for her foul on Sophia Boman. 4 minutes later would come Sporting Jax’s best chance of the 2nd half. Meg Hughes and Ashlyn Puerta would play consecutive 1-2 before going to Boman. Boman would play it to Puerta who would go one time on the near post just missing by a foot.

Ally Cook would replace Lena Silano with 18 minutes to play after Haley Thomas was booked for her challenge on Julia Lester. The 77th minute would see Hughes and Kenton play the ball down the left, Hughes finding Baylee DeSmit. DeSmit would turn and go for goal, only to miss the far post. A minute later Kacey Smekrud and Jessie Hunt would come on for Julia Lester and Sophia Boman.

Spokane would get two late chances when Zierenberg got in behind only to shoot right at Parks. Katie Murray would come on in the 86th and with her first touch would blast one from 35 hoping for the wind to aid her shot. Instead, Parks was waiting for it.

It was a frustrating night for Sporting Jax. They had their chances from set pieces, but couldn’t find the game winner. Spokane deserves all the credit for soaking up pressure after controlling the 15 minutes and doing just enough to make Sporting Jax’s final touch difficult. They will rue the missed opportunities themselves with the wind at their back, but on night this was the right result.

The other concern for Sporting Jax is the slow starts. This is back to back games where Sporting Jax were spectators in the opening quarter hour. That needs to change fast.

The gap for Sporting Jax atop the Gainbridge Super League sits at 4 points over Lexington SC. Sporting Jax return to Hodges Stadium next Saturday, April 4th as part of a possible double header day for the side. The Super League fixture against Brooklyn FC will kickoff at 2 pm and be available nationally on Peacock.

After the opening minute stand still protest (which got at least a holding steady acknowledgment from the booth) Sporting Jax took full advantage of the second minute to take the lead. Harvey Neville would get down the right on a 1-2 and play in the first cross of the night, one that was timed perfectly to Kieran Sadlier. Preston Kilwien was beaten by Sadlier’s run and Angelo Calfo was unable to get a foot on the cross as it came into the box for Sadlier to bury far post. It was a start right from the training ground, one that put Sporting Jax 1-0 in front.

Sporting Jax would continue to build from the front and 7 minutes later win a free kick 25 yards from goal after Tommy Musto would catch Rafferty Pedder late. Sadlier would take, but never the shot was never close to the crossbar. Despite all the pressure in the opening 11 minutes, Sporting Jax couldn’t make the pressure count for a second. A minute later they’d be made to pay.

Miami FC would pick the pocket of Antonio Gomez in the 12th minute, one where Mohamed Traore would have to clear out for a throw in 20 yards from goal. From that throw in the ball would be played directly into the box where Mason Tunbridge was waiting. Tunbridge got on the right side of Gomez before going far post. With Olivares out of position, it was a routine finish for Miami FC. Just like Sporting Jax, Miami FC would equalize on their first chance of the night.

The game would be back and forth until the midway point of the first half when Sporting Jax would go to the spot. Dida Armstrong would start the sequence with a pass into the box, Sporting Jax recycling the ball around the penalty area. It would be Rafferty Pedder’s pass that sprung Armstrong into the box, where he would be met with a late challenge by Kilwien. The referee was quick to award the penalty, one Kieran Sadlier would step up and promptly bury to his right to put Sporting Jax 2-1 in front.

Immediately from the restart Miami FC would get their next chance, this time from a free kick. A long ball into Arney Rocha would see Rocha taken down from behind by Antonio Gomez, Gomez seeing the book for the foul. Mathieu Ndongo would step up to take the free kick, but would put the ball over the crossbar. The 31st minute would see Ndongo get in from a Tunbridge pass only for Olivares to cut the angle and deny the shot from the edge of the six.

Miami FC would make a change at halftime, Rodrigo da Costa on for Preston Kilwien. It would also be Miami FC with the first chance of the 2nd half. Miami FC would play the ball out of their box right to Mason Tunbridge. Tunbridge would find Arney Rocha on the left and play the ball in. With Antonio Gomez out of position, Rocha was 1 v 1 with the Sporting Jax keeper but was denied.

8 minutes into the second half Miami FC would find their second equalizer of the night. Tyshawn Rose would start the sequence with a pass that was intercepted. The ball back into the attacking third was handled by Mason Tunbridge, one where Sporting Jax spent more time arguing for a handball that wasn’t coming than defending. Tunbridge would get the ball wide to Alessandro Milesi. With the entire left hand side of the pitch to himself after Harvey Neville was caught too far forward, Milesi would go for goal and see Antonio Gomez get just enough of a touch on the ball to put the ball in at the far post. Miami FC’s pressure to start the 2nd half paid off to make it 2-2.

The 57th minute would see Miami FC take the lead from the spot. Again, Mason Tunbridge would start the sequence setting up Rodrigo da Costa. From there it was quick movement to Milesi before a cross to Arney Rocha. Mohamed Traore would go for the challenge, whiff, and take out Rocha at the knees for a no doubter to the spot. Rocha would step up and wait for Olivares to go to ground before going to his right to finish. 2 goals 4 minutes apart would make it 3-2 Miami FC.

The 61st minute would see Miami FC nearly make it 4-2. Milesi would put another cross in from the left, one that would find an unmarked Mathieu Ndongo. If Ndongo had a better first touch his post was unmarked. Instead, he was unable to collect first time allowing Traore to clear the danger.

2 minutes later would come a golden chance for Sporting Jax to equalize. Sadlier would play the ball into the box for Dida Armstrong. The ball would be held up before Thomas Roberts first shot would be missed. With Felipe Rodriguez out of position, Emil Jaaskelainen would put a shot on goal only to have it denied by the leg of Daltyn Knutson. It wouldn’t be long before Zeke Soto replaced Thomas Roberts.

The 66th minute would see Ahmad Al-Qaq replace Kieran Sadlier. 7 minutes later, Sporting Jax would get in behind again. Tyshawn Rose would time the pass to Rafferty Pedder between Matias Romero and Daltyn Knutson. With Pedder 1 v 1 with Rodriguez, he would go far post only to be denied by the Miami keeper who had the angle covered.

6 minutes from time Miami FC would double their advantage on a blatant non-call. Rodrigo da Costa would play the ball into Mathieu Ndongo. Everyone threw their arm up for an offside call, only the decision never came. Ndongo buried the ball near post before looking to see if he could celebrate. If there wasn’t a sign he knew he was off, that was it. Thanks to the local broadcast, they did have a shot on the line of play, one that showed Ndongo was a full yard offside at the pass. With the linesman keeping the flag down, the goal stood, 4-2 Miami FC.

Despite chances in second half stoppage time to make the scoreline 4-3, Miami FC would see the game out to pick up their first win of the season.

To put it bluntly Sporting Jax does not have a back line. In the first 3 games it looks worse than the back line Miami FC had in the 2024 season. Antonio Gomez is an even bigger liability than Harvey Neville and that’s saying alot. At least Neville right now is getting crosses into the box. Sporting Jax can talk about how they are awaiting visa’s on 4 players but reality may need to be faced here soon because those visas may never come. Just ask Union Omaha, who had to announce today Prosper Kasim’s deal couldn’t be completed due to visa issues.

There are crumbs of positivity in the attack, but right now as long as the defensive shape and the lack of cohesion between the midfield and defensive lines stay as shambolic as these opening 3 games the attacking positives will stay crumbs. Sporting Jax aren’t equipped to win shootouts, and that’s a frightening thought.

Miami FC return to action on Saturday, March 28 against Rhode Island FC at Pitbull Stadium with a 7 pm kick. Sporting Jax will see the Pittsburgh Riverhounds raise their championship banner on Saturday, also with a 7 pm kick. Both games will be available on ESPN Select (ESPN+)

The game started quick for Dallas Trinity, forcing Kaitlyn Parks into action after 3 minutes. Brittany Bos would take a pass from from Lexi Missimo that cut through the middle of the 18 yard box and go for goal. For Parks, she had already cut the angle off and the ball was saved to the path of Grace Phillpotts. Phillpotts’s clearance only went to Camryn Lancaster, her centering ball ultimately cleared by Ashlyn Puerta.

7 minutes later Bos would lose a challenge with Geogria Brown and go to ground. Immediately everyone knew Bos’s days was done with a concussion. The challenge didn’t look harmless, but it’s usually those that are the most. Allie Thornton would replace Bos.

Camryn Lancaster in the 17th minute would get her second chance at a clean centering ball with 2 Dallas Trinity players making runs in the box and miss them all. If any of those two connect Parks would have been in trouble.

The 20th minute gave Sporting Jax’s first opportunity when Baylee DeSmit put a cross off Lauren Flynn for a corner. Georgia Brown was unable to get under the ball allowing Dallas a chance to clear. 2 minutes later it would be the Amber Wisner show as she denied both runs from both Ashlyn Puerta and Meg Hughes as they both tried to play the ball through the Dallas defender.

Wisner wouldn’t be perfect a minute later, her foul on Paige Kenton 25 yards from goal gave Ashlyn Puerta a free kick in prime territory. Puerta’s free kick had a look of going in at the near post if not for the slightest of touches by Caroline Swann.

The 25th minute would see Dallas with a chance of regret. Heather Stainbrook would play Lancaster into the box. With Kaitlyn Parks off her line, Lancaster was unable to get a shot or centering pass off as the Sporting Jax keeper stood tall to deny for a corner. From that corner Amber Wisner would float off her marker at the far post and get a clean header on goal, but right at the Sporting Jax keeper.

Dallas Trinity would continue shooting directly at Kaitlyn Parks 12 minutes later. As Dallas rotated across the 18 Wayny Balata would set up Cyera Hintzen, her shot directly at Parks.

The end of the first half would see Sporting Jax pounce on 2 Dallas mistakes. The first right on 45 minutes would see Ashlyn Puerta win the ball off a goal kick and play a 1-2 with Baylee DeSmit. DeSmit would get on the right side of Samar Guidry and go far post. Guidry’s late challenge did just enough to help DeSmit direct that ball into the net. Baylee DeSmit’s 4 consecutive game with a goal made it 1-0.

2 minutes later, Kacey Smekrud would play a high ball into the 18 towards Paige Kenton. Kenton would get between 2 defenders, let the ball bounce, turn and go far post before Wisner could make a challenge on the ball. The result, Paige Kenton’s 8th on the season on a goal that should be in contention for goal of the month. The bouncing volley doubled Sporting Jax’s advantage going into the break.

Sporting Jax nearly started the second half as they finished the first, with Baylee DeSmit going for goal from 23 yards out, Tyler McCamey having to put a touch on the ball to concede a corner. The 51st minute would see Camryn Lancaster play the ball to Thornton and Thornton chip on goal. Kaitlyn Parks had all day to deflect the ball up to settle and catch. A minute later Dallas would bring on Chioma Ubogagu and Sealey Strawn for Lexi Massimo and Caroline Swann.

9 minutes into the 2nd half Kacey Smekrud nearly got in on the act herself. After a ball from Paige Kenton, Smekrud would go on a 30 yard solo run, beating Lauren Flynn and Cyera Hintzen in the process. Getting to the edge of the 18 Smekrud had an angle on goal, a shot that kept rising over the crossbar, not missing by much.

2 minutes later Sporting Jax would make it 3-0. A ball would be played to Paige Kenton down the left and beat Flynn. Sophia Boman had made a run into the box unmarked and Kenton found her on the run. With Boman 1 v 1 with McCamey she would looked far post but shoot near, McCamey cheating far post the entire time. The ball nestled into the back of the net to put Sporting Jax 3-0 to the good, effectively game over.

With the game 3-0 wholesale changes were made by both sides. Julia Lester and Parker Roberts would come on immediately after the goal to replace Georgia Brown and Kacey Smekrud. 6 minutes later Jade Pennock and Jessie Hunt would replace Baylee DeSmit and Ashlyn Puerta. The 65th minute would see Dallas Trinity empty the remaining field players with Hannah Davison, Maya McCutcheon and Sydney Cheesman entering for Samar Guidry, Cyera Hintzen and Heather Stainbrook.

The only questions after the changes were made was would Sporting Jax keep their fourth consecutive clean sheet and would Sporting Jax add to the tally. Sporting Jax would make it 4-0 with 6 minutes to play. Jade Pennock would get down the right and play a cross across the box. Meg Hughes would stop the ball out of the air, beat Hannah Davison on the touch and bury a shot near post. Meg Hughes couldn’t believe the sequence as her touch to collect the ball made the sequence, stopping the ball with a perfect touch.

Kaitlyn Parks would ensure the clean sheet in the 2nd minute of second half stoppage time to deny Sealey Strawn’s centering pass to an empty net towards Ubogagu.

It’s been a while since Sporting Jax was tested the way Dallas Trinity tested them in the opening 20 minutes. However, once Sporting Jax found their footing the field tilted rather quickly. Once Sporting Jax hit the front, Dallas began to rush and Sporting Jax was more than glad to take advantage of those rushed Dallas moments.

Sporting Jax return home for the first time in over 5 weeks next Saturday, March 28th with a 7:30 pm kick against Spokane Zephyr.