Tomorrow, the USL Super League final will take place in Tampa as the two Florida Super League sides face off in a winner-take-all match. To prepare our readers for the matchup, I asked my two amazing cohosts from The Super Show to argue their case for either team (the opposite of the one they predicted to win the title). So here we go! - DV

John Howard-Fusco

How Can Ft. Lauderdale Win?

The task for Ft.Lauderdale United, winning the inaugural Super League championship, is really quite simple. They just need to do what they did against Carolina Ascent in the semis and the title is theirs. That’s it. Enjoy the game!

Ok - maybe some further explanation is needed.

Against Carolina, Ft. Lauderdale went direct with their soccer, willing to have less possession of the ball but making the possession they did have count. Playing balls over the top. Looking for spaces to hit runners with passes to get behind the back line. The tactic led to plenty of offsides calls, but it also led to good scoring chances. Jazmin Hamid found herself on multiple occasions with the ball and space driving towards the goalkeeper. And Kiara Locklear would find the back of the net for the team’s opening goal in a similar fashion.

The attack Ft. Lauderdale deployed against Carolina left the usually solid backline looking somewhat ragged and unorganized, and United’s front line found space. A similar approach could be used against the Tampa Bay Sun. Make the veteran side have to defend Ft. Lauderdale’s speed from sideline to sideline (to borrow a gridiron term). Continue to push Addie McCain forward as an attacking midfielder. Create space for your attackers and challenge Ashley Orkus, who looked a little shaky at times in Tampa Bay’s semifinal match against Dallas Trinity.

On the defensive side, Ft. Lauderdale will have to once again commit to playing defense as a team and getting numbers back. The loss of Laveni Vaka to a season-ending injury has never been overcome - how could you when she meant so much to the back line - and the results have been mixed. But against Carolina the commitment to team defense was more than admirable. In fact, the Ascent struggled to sustain offensive pressure for much of the semifinal. And when Carolina got opportunities, Cosette Morche made the saves.

Tampa Bay presents another dynamic offense to challenge Ft. Lauderdale. There’s Cecile Nielsen Floe, Tash Flint, Carlee Giammona, Sydney Nasello…lots of firepower to be sure. But the higher press that Ft. Lauderdale used against Carolina could also serve as a disruptor for Tampa Bay’s offensive plans. The biggest x-factor that United needs to be concerned with is Nasello. Every effort would need to be made to keep her from operating inside the 18, and they need to avoid one on one situations where a late challenge could put the Sun on the penalty spot.

An attacking offense and a commitment to team defense will require a lot of energy from the Ft. Lauderdale players. Players off the bench, such as Jorian Baucom, Sheyenne Allen, and Anele Komani, will once again need to be called on to provide quality minutes. But, to win the title, you need a complete team effort. And at times, Ft. Lauderdale has shown that they have the team that can beat anyone. This time, more than any other time, is when they need to show it.

Danielle Gawronski

How Can Tampa Bay Win?

There’s something to be said about a consistent team that is peaking during the playoffs. This accurately describes the Tampa Bay Sun FC, chemistry, an intangible quality that you know it when you see it. You can see it in Tampa Bay, the way they move the ball, find open space, and find a way to win.

For the first half of the season, Tampa hovered just below the playoff line. A team with loads of potential, an experienced roster, a supportive front office, and knowledgeable (and best dressed on the sideline) coach in Denise Schilte Brown, but struggled to find the back of the net. The midseason break brought the time needed to iron out tactics, watch film, practice free kicks, and adjust the roster. Time to gel and familiarize themselves with each other made a big difference and week by week we saw Tampa win one at a time and move up the rankings ending in second place overall and homefield advantage in the final.

Every week, one can see Tampa Bay stay patient, persisting to the final whistle and scoring in the late minutes of a match to tie or win. Levelheaded focus to continue to execute the game plan and find a way to win will make a difference in a playoff match, with heightened emotions. They will not be frantic and make mistakes if they go down a goal, but persevere to get a goal. Pressure won’t be new for them. They have a winning mentality.

*Photo Credit: Mike Carlson/Tampa Bay Sun FC*

Collectively, they have one of the most dynamic offenses that are electrifying to watch. Tampa is second in the league with 44 goals. They have had 76 successful crosses to Fort Lauderdale’s 49. Their forwards find the space and have laser like accuracy. Their shooting accuracy and shots on target rate is higher than Fort Lauderdale’s. Natasha Flint is world-class at finding and creating the pockets of space, she can shoot (29 were on target) and score (10 goals) from anywhere. Cecilie Fløe led the team in goals (11) and assists (4) she is unafraid to drive at a defender. Carlee Giammona and Sydny Nasello orchestrated the attack. Watching Giammona you’d be awed at how she could slip a ball, breaking lines, to launch an attack.

Stingy defense that has only allowed 29 goals against them, second lowest behind Carolina Ascent. Vivian Bessette was a key piece of that unit, second on the team in interceptions (35) and 20 blocks.

Lead the league in fouls conceded (378) and red cards, they received the first one. Fort Lauderdale will have to earn every step and dribble against a physical Tampa. This game will be a battle with Jordan Listro as it’s general. Listro a veteran player, wants to own the midfield and not allow players to get past her.

The deeper one digs into the stats, the more you find they are pretty close in most areas or a few apart. I think this game will come down to the research and tactical adjustments to earn an extra inch or exploit a player. We have already seen that utilizing your game changers off the bench is critical to being able to continue an attack. Who will use them wisely as part of the plan?

Cover photo credit: Mike Carlson/Tampa Bay Sun FC