Kiara Locklear appeared to be offside when she scored the game-winning goal in the 120th minute for Fort Lauderdale.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β Kiara Locklear scored at almost the last possible moment in extra time to give Fort Lauderdale United a 2-1 win over Carolina Ascent and send the team to the inaugural USL Super League final.
Locklear’s goal came in the 120th minute off a foul kick that was knocked around in her direction in the penalty area. Locklear took a swing at the goal and hit the net with not much of a challenge from Carolina goalkeeper Samantha Leshnak Murphy.Β
Murphy, like everyone else, thought Locklear was offside when she received the pass. Replays showed that Locklear was likely offside, but the lack of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the USL Super League meant that the call could not be overturned.
Fort Lauderdale will face the Tampa Bay Sun in the USL Super League Final.
It’s a rough way for the season to end for the Ascent, who held the No. 1 seed in the playoffs after topping the league in its inaugural year.
Carolina midfielder Kat Gonzalez scored the match’s first goal in the 55th minute with a brilliant kick from the edge of the box that sent the ball into the net.Β
Locklear scored in the 68th minute to tie the game at one apiece.Β
Neither team could score before the end of regulation, forcing the game into extra time. The match sat deadlocked for the first 29 minutes of extra time until Locklear’s surprise score.Β
After being the best in the league for 28 regular-season matches, a single controversial goal ended Carolina’s hopes of a title.Β
