Lakeland scores huge road win over FC Miami City, 3-2, to improve to 2-0 on young season

MIAMI – The first-place Lakeland Tropics picked up a huge road win Saturday night, edging FC Miami City 3-2 to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Miami lost just once in 14 games last year in finishing in second place in the USL Premier Development League's southeast division, while the Tropics were third with a 9-3-2 mark. Both clubs qualified for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup this spring, with both falling in opening-round matchups.

The teams traded goals in the first half, with Southeastern University product Bruno Enrique netting his first-ever goal for the Tropics at soggy Tropical Park Stadium. In fact, it was the Tropics first goal ever against FC Miami City, who posted shutouts in both wins over Lakeland last season.

Southeastern's Ben-Avir Espinal got the game winner, getting behind the Miami defense on a goal kick delivered by goalkeep Gustavo Vasconcelos, who picked up his second win in as many starts after making his Tropics debut with a clean sheet against Next Academy Palm Beach last weekend.

Ricardo Diegues, the team's leading scorer with 10 last season, added his second in as many games this spring in the second half for the other Lakeland score.

Lakeland, with six points and alone atop the southeastern division table, will put their perfect mark on the line next Sunday night  back at historic Bryant Stadium when they host North County United in a Memorial Day weekend showdown. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.lakelandtropics.com, or by calling the team's office at 863-240-0101.

The United, formerly the South Florida Surf, will open their regular season Thursday, May 24 when they host Next Academy Palm Beach.