Nona FC Settles for 1-1 Draw in 2026 Season Opener

WINTER PARK — Nona FC (0-0-1, 1 point) conceded a late equalizer in its 2026 USL League Two season opener Saturday evening, settling for a 1-1 draw against Brooke House FC (0-0-1, 1 point) in the first Orlando Derby of the year at Showalter Field.

The Longhorns created several dangerous opportunities throughout the match, nearly opening the scoring early through midfielder Abdou Mane. The midfielder forced a save inside the box in the seventh minute before rattling the crossbar off a free kick in the 20th minute. Nona FC continued to apply pressure in the second half, with Tim Brdaric narrowly missing the target on a header off a corner kick in the 59th minute.

Forward Fabio Bozesan nearly broke the deadlock in the 71st minute with a strike from the edge of the box that was denied by the Brooke House goalkeeper. The breakthrough finally came six minutes later, when Bozesan converted from the penalty spot to score in his debut for the Black and Orange and give Nona a late lead.

Brooke House responded in the closing moments, however, finding the equalizer in the 90th minute off a throw-in opportunity as Francesco Aiello split the points for the hosts.

Scoring Summary:

77’ Fabio Bozesan (Penalty Kick) — BRO 0, NON 1

90’ Francesco Aiello — BRO 1, NON 1

Head Coach Bruno Jaeger:

“We knew it would be a difficult away game against a good team. We feel frustrated with how the game ended, especially being so close to getting the win. Overall, there were a lot of positives, and we are still on track with what we want to achieve this season. The focus now is to shake off the frustration from Saturday and concentrate on preparing well this week so we can go after the three points at home on Wednesday.”

Match Notes:

• Fabio Bozesan found the back of the net in his debut for the Longhorns.

• Nona FC remains unbeaten against Brooke House FC, holding a 4-0-2 record all-time.

• Saturday’s result extended Nona FC’s unbeaten run in season openers to five matches, with the club holding a 3-0-2 all-time record.

• Head Coach Bruno Jaeger’s starting lineup featured two returners from the 2025 squad in Abdou Mane and Filipe Moreira.

• Ansel Ledezma was the lone player to feature in the season opener to have gone through Nona’s academy.

Next Match:

Nona FC will host Shark Coast in their home opener on Wednesday, May 20, 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)