Match 17: Tampa Bay Sun vs Fort Lauderdale Preview
Date: Saturday February 14, 2026
Result: Tampa Bay 1-1 DC
Records: Tampa Bay Sun (12 pts 1W-9D-6L); DC Power FC (19 pts 4W-7D-5L)
Standings: The Sun sit 9th in the USL Super League and the Power are in 8th.
The Sun are already up against the wall for making the playoffs. It seems early to say that – and it is – but this is where they are. A draw at home against a struggling DC did not help. Possibly making matters worse is an injury to an important player. Time will tell exactly how bad things are, of course. In the meantime, fans are left to sit and wonder about points dropped and a star attacker potentially out for a while.
Guess we’re doing all draws again?
The Sun seem to have settled on a formation for the second half of their second season in the Super League. Unfortunately, it has not turned in the results needed so far. Although it’s only February, the team needs to start racking up wins if they are to have any hope of making the playoffs and defending their inaugural season title.
From two games in 2026, Tampa Bay has two draws. A 2-2 result followed by a 1-1 result not only hurt the team in terms of climbing the table, but they have shown different weaknesses still present in the side overall. All this campaign, the Sun have had trouble with offensive production. There was hope that a match against DC Power would allow for growth there.
DC, at time of writing, sit second-to-last in the table, with only Tampa Bay behind them. Even so, they were mostly able to keep the Blue and Gold at bay. To be clear, there were bright moments for the home side. Their goal in the first half followed some good play to maintain possession after an initial clearance from a corner kick.
Sydny Nasello did well to beat her opponent and find a teammate. Jilly Shimkin, who helped start the play from the initial set piece, pulled out wide to provide another option. She found Jordan Fusco, who followed up on her own saved shot to knock it home. It should’ve been 2-0 roughly ten minutes later; but, Madi Parsons almost inexplicably headed wide from within the six-yard-box.
Nasello was involved on that play as well, getting a nice little backheel in the build up to both goals. The question becomes whether or not the Sun have a specific overreliance for chance creation. Last season, the team had two good options for their attack: one with speed and one with guile. With Cecilie Floe off to Italy, it seems the guile of Nasello is the main asset left.
This is where DC was able to even things out. If they focused on shutting down either Nasello or closing down her lanes, the Power were okay. She still broke through enough to cause problems because she’s difficult to shut out of a game entirely. Unless, of course, she’s injured. After the Sun conceded, that’s exactly what happened. The extent of the issue remains to be seen.
The concession was also a sign of trouble for Tampa Bay – and not just in the fact of giving up a goal. From a set piece that was played very deep, the Sun failed to clear on multiple opportunities. Essentially, if you leave the ball bobbling around your six-yard-box long enough, you’ll be made to pay. Thus, a very low-scoring team kept themselves in the game.
Player of the Game:
Liz: Jordan Fusco
JD: Jordan Fusco
Date: Saturday February 21 at 7:30 pm
Upcoming Game: Tampa Bay vs. Fort Lauderdale
A south Florida derby with a lot on the line?
Tampa Bay had a few more chances to give themselves a win over DC. We can say now that it’s over that these were not enough. The next problem is the potential lack of Nasello, which would hamper things even more going forward. As stated above, a lack of goals is preventing the team from earning victories, and each three points lost is getting them closer to desperation.
Under normal circumstances, the upcoming opposition would be the exact team you’d want to play. Fort Lauderdale have been in a transition season, already switching coaches due to structural changes at the club. Since then, poor results have led to the front office making the difficult call to replace a new coach only a few months into the job.
Paul Jennison took over recently after several dismal results. FLOOTD lost at home twice in a row to start 2026, first by a 3-1 and then by a 4-0 scoreline. Righting the ship since the change in coach only led to a 3-3 draw, also at home against Brooklyn FC. To say United are down in the dumps would be an understatement at this point.
But, of course, fans of Tampa Bay know they’re not doing much better. In fact, were it not for expansion side Sporting Jax, the state of Florida would be dragging up the rear of the Super League. Both are fighting against big losses from their previous rosters, and both seem to be coming up short in their efforts to turn things around.
The Fort Lauderdale defense is particularly poor, with those recent results contributing to a -10 goal differential. (The Sun’s is -11.) Putting chances up on the board should be expected for the Blue and Gold. Whether or not they’re ultimately converted is another matter naturally. There’s every chance for hope, though, with United switching their keepers to no good effect in January.
Where their opponents are vulnerable, so too are Tampa Bay. Defensively poor all season, even a cursory view of the game against DC from the highlights package shows this. The Power had very little going forward all night; yet, they found a way to get a goal and leave with a point. Fort Lauderdale will take solace in that fact with their more flexible attack.
While Nasello leads her side with four goals, FLOOTD actually have four players who’ve hit that mark so far this year. Putting something in the box may just be enough to score on the Sun right now. They’re short on confidence in net and in front of it, too. Frankly, this match seems to be screaming, “DRAW!” A few mistakes here and there from both teams.
How the home side turns this around is not determined yet. The front office will put out their injury list before the game, and fans will know then if there is reason to be even more worried for the attack. Regardless of what happens there, every cross into the Sun box should be cause for concern. It’s a bad state to be in heading into a rivalry game with potential dire consequences.
RBLR Score Predictions:
Lizzie: 1-1 D
JD: 2-0 W
Yurika: 2-1 W
James: 2-2 D
RBLR Score Predictions Standings:
Lizzie: 7
JD: 0
Yurika: 2
James: 8
