USL SUPER LEAGUE: Tampa Bay Sun FC ‘rises’ to claim inaugural cup with overtime win over in-state rival Fort Lauderdale
- Dan Stickradt
- Jun 14
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay Sun FC made history as the first USL Super League champions.
Seeded second entering the postseason, the Tampa Bay Sun FC rose to the occasion after the game-winner from Cecilie Fløe in extra time earned a 1-0 win over fourth-seeded Fort Lauderdale United FC in the 2025 USL Super League Final Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 5,006 fans at Riverfront Stadium.
Sydny Nasello was named 2025 USL Super League Final MVP after assisting the go-ahead goal in the 100th minute, along with recording 16 duels won, four chances created and two shots.
The win marked the sixth-straight win at Riverfront Stadium for Tampa Bay – a side that held the best home record in the league during the regular season.
Tampa Bay, which finished the regular season with a 12-6-10 record for 46 points and trailed only top-seeded Carolina Ascent (13-6-9, 48 points), put the pressure on early, taking multiple shots and corners within the first 20 minutes. Nasello provided the first big chance for the home side around the 30-minute mark, receiving a ball over the backline from Carlee Giammona. Nasello took a touch inside and blasted a shot that forced a quick save over the crossbar from FTL goalkeeper Cosette Morché.
The Sun looked to have broken the deadlock in the 54th minute after a long ball by Vivianne Bessette found striker Tash Flint making a run into the box. Flint took a touch around the defender and chipped the ball over Morché into the back of the net, but it was called offside.
After 90-plus minutes of scoreless soccer, the Tampa Bay Sun FC found a way to strike gold. Tampa Bay earned a free throw deep into its attacking third, quickly finding the feet of Nasello. The midfielder made a move past her defender and played the ball across the face of goal, where Fløe flicked it in for the lone goal of the night in the 100th minute during the first overtime period.
Fort Lauderdale United FC, which came into the tournament as the No. 4 seed (11-9-9, 42 points) and upset top-seeded Carolina Ascent in the semifinals back on June 8 (2-1), tried to net the equalizer in the second period of extra time. FLU came close with Addie McCain in the 115th minute, but her chance was wide of target and the Sun FC held firm defensively to preserve the win.
The Tampa Bay Sun FC outshot Fort Lauderdale United 22-16 overall, including 7-1 with shots on goal and 11-5 off cornerkicks even though visiting Fort Lauderdale held a narrow edge on possession at 52.3 to 47.7.
Ashley Orkus made one official save to gain the clean sheet for the Sun Fc, while defenders Victoria Haugon, Paige Almendariz, Vivianne Bessette and Brooke Hendrix stood tall to allow just the one shot on goal, five cornerkicks, the 16 total shots over 120 minutes of play and 10 shots inside the box to keep the shutout in tact.
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