Rodeo Derby Ends in Draw Following Weather Suspension

LAKE NONA — Nona FC (1-0-3, 6 points) and Brave SC (1-0-2, 5 points) split the points Tuesday night in the ninth edition of the Rodeo Derby, with inclement weather forcing the match to end in a 1-1 draw at Austin-Tindall Sports Complex.

The Longhorns struck first in the 10th minute through defender Basit Umar, who curled a left-footed effort from outside the box into the back of the net on his first start for the Black and Orange. Forward Larry Noel provided the assist as Nona FC took an early lead in front of the home crowd.

A physical first half saw five yellow cards issued between the two sides as the rivalry once again lived up to its reputation. Nona FC nearly doubled its advantage before halftime when Andrey Gentil stepped up over a free kick, but his effort was denied by the Brave SC goalkeeper to keep the score at 1-0 heading into the break.

The visitors responded strongly in the second half and found their equalizer in the 65th minute. After Caue Ramos' effort ricocheted off a Nona FC hand inside the penalty area, Brave SC was awarded a penalty kick. Rian Barrett converted from the spot to level the match at one goal apiece. 

Just two minutes later, severe weather in the area forced the match into a delay in the 67th minute. After approximately an hour and a half of waiting, conditions failed to improve and the match was called with the score tied 1-1, resulting in both sides earning a point.

Scoring Summary:

10’ Basit Umar (Larry Noel) — NON 1, BRA 0

65’ Rian Barrett (Penalty Kick) — NON 1, BRA 1

Match Notes:

• For the first time this season, forwards Larry Noel and Fabio Bozesan started alongside one another after alternating starts through the Longhorns' first three matches.

• This was the ninth Rodeo Derby in history, with the series fully even at a 3-3-3 record.

• Bruno Jaeger made three changes to his starting lineup, re-inserting forward Fabio Bosezan, while midfielder Kelvin Baffour and defender Basit Umar earned their first start for the Longhorns.

Next Match: 

Nona FC travels to New Smyrna Beach to take on Shark Coast FC in their second meeting of the season on Saturday, June 6. The Longhorns recently defeated Shark Coast FC 5-1 in the Black and Orange’s home opener on May 20 on the back of a Larry Noel first-career hat trick. 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)