Nona FC Handles Brevard SC, 2-0 In Season Opener

LAKE NONA - Bernardo Monteiro’s crafty free kick and Andre Navas’ slotted finish made the difference as the Nona FC Longhorns took down the Brevard SC Fire 2-0 on Wednesday night at the Austin Tindall Soccer Complex.

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“I believe that it was a great, great, match. We were a very, very balanced team, both defensively and offensively. You know, there's the thought of being nervous for the first match at home in front of our public. But we started well, we got the three points and I’m very excited for the games coming up.” 

BRUNO JAEGER  NONA FC HEAD COACH

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Nona threatened to deliver early in the fourth minute when Monteiro’s inswinging corner reached the head of Henrique Cruz, only for his effort to soar right into Brevard goalkeeper Aidan McAteer’s arms.

Neither team could string together a chance for the next period of the game, until Nona striker Christian Kraus shot the ball on target following Filipe Moreira’s dancing run in the 23rd minute.

Just seven minutes later, Andre Navas put together a solo run of his own that delivered a foul and a free kick on the edge of Brevard’s penalty box. Monteiro then sneaked his shot around the near-post side of the defending wall, just past the outstretched arms of McAteer to give Nona FC its first goal of the 2025 season. The goal marked the Black and Orange’s first from a free kick since June 29, 2024 when Charles Ahl curled one in against Brevard SC in a 4-1 victory in Brevard.

After the opening score, the Longhorns kept the pressure up as Kraus had a dangerous effort blocked three minutes after the goal.

In the 36th minute, Kraus became the architect for Nona’s second goal as he drifted out wide to receive a pass from Monteiro. He played the ball into the middle where Takuto Nishide’s deft one-touch pass to Navas set up a one-on-one chance that he coolly finished into the bottom right corner.

Navas’ goal will be etched into the history books as it is only the second goal, the first from open play, and the first at home that a Nona Academy graduate has scored for the USL2 team since Pedro Nunes’ penalty kick against Brevard SC on July 11, 2023 in Brevard.

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“They’ve (Andre Navas and Ansel Ledezma) been with us for three years now. And having them start and having one of them score the goal and be man of the match shows that the project that we are setting, that we are providing to the families in Lake Nona and Orlando, is working.” 

BRUNO JAEGER  NONA FC HEAD COACH

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Wanting to respond with a goal of its own, Brevard’s Adrian Chan sent a dangerous through ball to Johan Magaña in the 39th minute that had Nona goalie Rafa Santos sweating as Magaña’s shot went just wide of the right post.

In the second half, the Fire picked up right where they left off with two quick counterattacks in the 49th minute that forced last-ditch tackles out of both Paulo Alves and Longhorn captain Mason Lamb.

The two well-timed defensive efforts doused the Fire’s momentum, and neither team registered a shot for a long period of the half as the Black and Orange were stout in defending their lead.

As the clock winded down and Brevard searched for a lifeline, Nona substitute Mohammed Mouzone tripped Fire substitute Cedrick Fenelon on the edge of the penalty area, providing what seemed to be one last chance for the visitors to take something away from the match. The cross from Fenelon was low and dangerous, forcing Longhorn substitute striker Carlos Rojas to clear it off the line. Rojas used his height to clear the subsequent corner kick, and the Longhorns defended their lead to see out the result.

Nona’s 2-0 victory and clean sheet on Wednesday extended its perfect record in season openers, as the Longhorns have now won and kept a clean sheet in all three of their opening matches. The result marked the Black and Orange’s first clean sheet since June 19, 2024, when they swept Brooke House FC, 3-0, at the Austin Tindall Soccer Complex. With the win, Nona improved to a perfect 7-0-0 all-time against the Fire, following the first of three contests between the clubs in 2025.

The Black and Orange will look to continue their strong start to the season when they travel to Showalter Field on May 21 at 7 p.m. to take on Brooke House FC.

"Win. It's our goal," Navas said. "That's what we're looking for every time, and hopefully we get the three points." 

The match will mark the third edition of the Orlando Derby rivalry between the two clubs, with Nona holding a 1-0-1 advantage over the Lions, including a 3-0 home victory in their most recent meeting on June 19, 2024.

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