Despite a historic milestone for forward Jasmine Hamid, Fort Lauderdale United FC (4-5-6, 18 PTS) struggled to find its rhythm on Saturday evening, dropping a 3-1 decision to Lexington SC (5-0-9, 27 PTS). The match at Beyond Bancard Field marked the beginning of the spring portion of the 2025-26 Gainbridge Super League.

The home side found themselves in an early hole after conceding a goal in just the 8th minute. However, the deficit could have been deeper if not for the heroics of goalkeeper McKinley Crone. Making her club debut, Crone was under fire immediately, recording four crucial saves within the first 18 minutes to keep Fort Lauderdale within striking distance of a Lexington side that was running roughshod particularly in midfield.

Lexington was finding lots of space in wide areas and pockets of space in the midfield and dictated the temple of play throughout the first half. They scored twice and were unlucky not to score two or three more times.

Offensively, for Fort Lauderdale Kiara Locklear and Jasmine Hamid provided the primary sparks. The duo’s chemistry was evident in the 21st minute during a sleek give-and-go, though Locklear’s final effort drifted just wide. Lexington eventually capitalized on their pressure, doubling their lead in the 26th minute to take a 2-0 advantage into the halftime break.

Fort Lauderdale entered the second half with renewed aggression. While Lexington managed to add a third goal in the 58th minute, Jasmine Hamid refused to let the game slip away quietly.

In the 80th minute, Hamid ignited the home crowd with a brilliant solo run through the heart of the Lexington defense. She capped the move with a “rocket” into the bottom-right corner, marking her third goal of the season. The strike was a landmark moment for the club:

Stat Watch: With this goal, Jasmine Hamid has moved into a tie for Fort Lauderdale United’s all-time scoring record with 12 career goals.

Professional Debuts and Late Pressure

Head Coach Ali Rogers utilized her bench to inject energy late in the match, handing professional debuts to Daniela Todd and Dakota Harrell. The fresh legs led to a late surge, including a dangerous header from Sophie Harding in the closing minutes, but Lexington’s defense held firm to secure the three points.

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