Fort Lauderdale played out a 1:1 draw with New York City II in the MLS Next Pro group stage at Chase Stadium on Tuesday evening. The home side took an early lead through a penalty before the visitors responded to level matters before the interval.
J. Suchecki opened the scoring from the spot in the ninth minute, giving the hosts a slender advantage. New York City II hit back shortly after, with M. Saja finding the net in the sixteenth minute. T. Vorenkamp then restored the hosts' lead in the twenty-eighth minute, but I. Zeltzer-Zubida equalised just before the break in the forty-fifth minute.
The second half saw more action in front of goal. A goal in the sixty-third minute was followed by J. Ponce converting a penalty for New York City II. However, the match took a dramatic turn when J. Adeclat scored for Fort Lauderdale in the ninety-second minute. Both sides saw players sent off late on, with I. Urkidi receiving a red card in the eighty-second minute and another dismissal following in the eighty-third.
There were plenty of bookings throughout the contest. I. Urkidi picked up two yellows before his sending-off, while J. Ortela, S. Morrison, and J. Suchecki all went into the referee's book. Substitutions came thick and fast in the final twenty minutes, with nine changes made between the seventy-fourth and eighty-ninth minutes.
The result leaves Fort Lauderdale in sixteenth place on twelve points from twenty-four matches, with only three wins to their name. New York City II remain eighth on thirty-nine points, having won thirteen of their twenty-four games. The hosts have lost twenty-one of their matches this season, a record that shows how difficult their campaign has been.
For New York City II, the draw does little to alter their position in the table. They travel with confidence after a run of results that includes victories over Orlando City II and Cincinnati II, but the away trip to Chase Stadium proved more challenging than expected. The result keeps them clear of the relegation zone but doesn't close the gap on the teams above.
