The Paul Jennison era at Fort Lauderdale United FC began with fireworks on Saturday night. In a seesaw battle defined by grit and late-game heroics, United (4-6-7, 19 PTS) played to a breathless 3-3 draw against Brooklyn FC at Beyond Bancard Field.
The result snapped a three-match losing streak and provided a much-needed spark for the club as they navigate a coaching transition and an intensifying playoff push in the Gainbridge Super League.
A Career Night for Abi Hugh
The headline of the first half was defender Abi Hugh, who recorded the first professional goal contributions of her career in spectacular fashion.
After a physical opening 20 minutes where Laveni Vaka anchored the defense with goal-saving tackles, United broke the deadlock in the 30th minute. Sophie Harding, making her first start of the season, threaded a perfect through ball to Hugh, who rifled a shot into the far corner for the 1-0 lead.
Though Brooklyn equalized just before the half and took a 2-1 lead immediately after the restart, Hugh wasn’t finished. In the 64th minute, she turned playmaker, setting up Jasmine Hamid for a clinical finish to level the score at 2-2. It was Hamid’s fourth goal of the campaign.
Stoppage Time Heroics
The drama reached a fever pitch in the closing stages:
Red Card: Brooklyn was reduced to 10 players in the 77th minute.
The Deficit: Despite the man advantage, Fort Lauderdale conceded in the 82nd minute, trailing 3-2.
The Equalizer: In the 90th minute, Vaka capped off a stellar defensive night by swinging a pinpoint cross into the box. Ella Simpson rose above the Brooklyn defense to power home a header, her fourth of the season, making it 3-3.
Ten minutes of stoppage time saw both sides sprint for a winner, but the points were ultimately shared in what was easily one of the most entertaining matches of the 2025/26 season.
Match Statistics
CategoryFort Lauderdale UnitedBrooklyn FCGoals33Record4-6-7 (19 PTS)4-6-7 (19 PTS)Key ScorersHugh (30′), Hamid (64′), Simpson (90′)—
Up Next: The Florida Derby
Interim Head Coach Paul Jennison now turns his attention to the road. United travels to face Tampa Bay Sun FC on Saturday, February 21, for the first road match of the Spring campaign.
The “Florida Derby” has been a defensive stalemate so far this season, with the two clubs playing to 0-0 and 1-1 draws in the Fall. With the momentum of a three-goal performance behind them, Fort Lauderdale will look to claim their first-ever victory over their in-state rivals.
“We emphasized playing into space and unlocking our dynamic threats,” Jennison told me post-match regarding his tactical shift this week. That aggression will be tested next weekend in Tampa as the playoff race heats up. Fort Lauderdale has lost or drawn all six previous matchups with Tampa Bay including in the USL Super League Final last season.
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