FORT LAUDERDALE – The first game in Fort Lauderdale CF history saw it fall to Greenville Triumph SC 2-0 at Inter Miami CF Stadium on Saturday night.
It seemed that Fort Lauderdale would head to the break level after starting the match well. Still, Triumph had other ideas, opening the scoring in first-half stoppage time. A long ball was lifted over the top and controlled by Alex Morell, who curled it into the net’s bottom corner.
Greenville doubled the lead early in the second half as Jake Keegan put away a header in the 47th minute. From there, the visitors easily held out and claimed all three points to open the USL League One season.
Things could have been very different. Fort Lauderdale did well in the opening minutes. In the 13th minute, Servando Carrasco got on the end of a corner but headed it over the bar. A stunning shot from 16-year-old debutant Edison Azcona hit a curling strike that was well saved by the keeper.
Along with Azcona, there were three other professional debuts in the starting 11. Frank Nodarse and two other academy products, Francisco Raggio, and Andres Cardenas.
From the bench came four more professional debuts to Ian Fray, Joshua Saavedra, Jason Buckner, and Christian Lue Young. There was also one more debut in the match, the venue. This match was the first held at Inter Miami CF Stadium, which will remain home for the club even after the parent club, Inter Miami CF, move to Miami Freedom Park.
Florida Soccer Report 