Nona FC Held Scoreless in Draw Against Sporting Jax

LAKE NONA — Nona FC (1-0-2, 5 points) remained atop the USL League Two Southeast Division standings Tuesday night after playing Sporting Jax (1-0-2, 5 points) to a scoreless draw at Austin-Tindall Sports Complex. The two sides remain level on points through three matches, with the Longhorns holding the top spot on goal difference.

In a physical battle between the division's top two teams, Nona FC created the majority of the scoring opportunities while limiting Sporting Jax to just two shots throughout the match. The contest featured nine yellow cards and numerous fouls as both sides fought for control of the table.

The Longhorns nearly opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Michael Appiah cut in from the left wing and fired a shot on goal. Appiah continued to threaten the Sporting Jax defense later in the half, finding Larry Noel with a pass across the box, but the forward's effort drifted just wide of the post as the two teams entered halftime deadlocked at 0-0.

Nona FC continued to push for a breakthrough after the break. Thomas Boye created one of the side's best opportunities with a run down the left wing before sending his effort over the crossbar. In the closing stages, midfielder Osey Gyamfi nearly found a winner in the 85th minute, but couldn’t hit the target on an outside-of-the-box strike.

Despite being held off the scoresheet, the Black and Orange finished with a 12-2 advantage in shots and controlled much of the attacking play throughout the evening, earning a point in a tightly contested matchup between the Southeast Division frontrunners.

Head Coach Bruno Jaeger:

“I have to congratulate the players for the effort and discipline to stick to the game plan, we knew the importance of this game and we competed at the highest level. I believe that stats speak for themselves, we created the better chances and dominate most of the game, therefore deserved the win. Didnt happen today, but it showed a lot of progress from the last two games and a positive perspective looking forward.”

Match Notes:

• Midfielder Kelvin Baffour made his Nona FC debut.

• Midfielder Xavier Rimpel earned his first start for the Longhorns.

• Tuesday's result marked the third scoreless draw in Nona FC history and the first since May 18, 2024.

• Head Coach Bruno Jaeger made two changes to his starting lineup from the last game, inserting midfielder Xavier Rimpel and forward Larry Noel.

Next Match: 

The Rodeo Derby is up next for the Longhorns, as Nona FC takes on Braves SC on Tuesday, June 2, at Austin-Tindall Sports Complex. The match is set to kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET and will be streamed on sportsengineplay.com.

Tickets:

Nona FC single-match home tickets for the 2026 USL League Two season are on sale now. Please visit tickets.uslleaguetwo.com/venues/4446 for more information and to purchase tickets.

About Nona FC:

Established in 2020, Nona FC is a USL League Two club proudly representing Lake Nona, Florida. Built on a commitment to player development, community, and excellence, the club serves as a pathway for players looking to advance to the collegiate and professional levels. Since its founding, Nona FC has earned national recognition, including a Southeast Conference Championship in 2022, while continuing to grow the game throughout Central Florida.

Follow Nona FC on Instagram (@nonafootballclub) and YouTube (@nonasportscast4180), and follow Nona Soccer Academy on Instagram (@nonasocceracademy)