Fort Lauderdale CF signs Servando Carrasco, debuts Saturday at Inter Miami Stadium
Inter Miami Stadium will host its first soccer game on Saturday, but it won’t be Inter Miami on the field. Instead, the club’s USL team – Fort Lauderdale CF — will be the first to play an official match on the new field in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale CF will open its inaugural USL League One season Saturday at 8 p.m. against the Greenville Triumph SC. All its matches will be played without spectators and televised on ESPN+.
The team, coached by former MLS player and coach Jason Kreis, features 14 players on professional contracts, including MLS veteran midfielder Servando Carrasco, who is married to U.S. women’s national team star Alex Morgan. They couple had a baby girl a few months ago.
Carrasco, 31, played nine seasons in MLS with the Seattle Sounders FC, the Houston Dynamo, Sporting Kansas City, Orlando City SC and the LA Galaxy. He made 16 regular season appearances with the LA Galaxy in 2019.
“When I was a freshman in college and a rookie in the league, I always looked up to the guys who led by example, so if I want to get the best out of my teammates, I have to set an example with habits and attention to details,” Carrasca said.
Two Inter Miami CF Academy players were signed to pro contracts with Fort Lauderdale CF — 17-year-old defender Ian Fray of Coconut Creek and 18-year-old midfielder Francisco Raggio of Miami Beach. Both played youth soccer at Weston FC.
“My goal is for us to win a lot of games, and keep developing players and moving players up,” Fray said.
Three Cuban nationals are on the team — midfielder Rivaldo Ibarra, defender Frank Nodarse and defender Modesto Mendez.
The roster will also include 12 players from the Inter Miami CF Academy following the completion of their season.
Ft. Lauderdale CF full roster:
MF Servando Carrasco (LA Galaxy), GK Dylan Castanheira (Atlanta United 2), MF Blaine Ferri (SpVgg Greuther Fürth II) D Ian Frey (Inter Miami CF Academy), GK Daniel Gagliardi (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), D Sami Guediri (Greenville Triumph SC), MF Rivaldo Ibarra (Ciudad de la Habana), F Ricky Lopez-Espin (Lansing Ignite FC), D Modesto Mendez (FC Pinar del Rio), D Frank Nodarse (Cuba U-20, Fortuna SC), MF Francisco Raggio (Inter Miami CF Academy), D Brian Rosales (FC Tulsa), MF Eduardo Sosa (Columbus Crew SC), D Christian Lue Young (University of Akron).
Joining the roster after the Inter Miami CF Academy season are: F Edison Azcona, F Jason Buckner, F Andres Cardenas, D Allan Cuartas, MF Cesar Cuellar, D Ethan Hardin, F Dairon Reyes, MF Joshua Saavedra, F Dylan Talero, D Kai Thomas, F Felipe Valencia, GK Andre Zuluaga.
Union player suspended for foul on Reyes
Major League Soccer’s Disciplinary Committee announced Thursday that Philadelphia Union midfielder Jose Martinez has been suspended for one match and issued an undisclosed fine for violent conduct against Inter Miami CF defender Andres Reyes in the 40th minute of the Philadelphia Union match against Inter Miami CF on July 14.
The play was reviewed under Disciplinary Committee Parameter #3, in which the Disciplinary Committee may act where the Professional Referees Organization (PRO) acknowledges an on-field referee or Video Review error, and where the Committee is unanimous that the play warrants at least a one match suspension as a clear and unequivocal red card, is egregious and/or repeat behavior in nature, and/or the Committee must act to protect player safety or the integrity of the game.
Inter Miami, which is on the brink of elimination from the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando after two losses, plays its final group match Monday at 9 a.m. against New York City FC. The game is on ESPN.