TAMPA, Fla. — The lights went out. The Sun went down. And then, somehow, Tampa Bay Sun FC found a way to rise.

On a night filled with twists, delays and drama, Tampa Bay erased a one-goal deficit with two second-half strikes to defeat Fort Lauderdale United FC, 2-1, Saturday night at Suncoast Credit Union Field.

It was a night that refused to follow the script.

Fort Lauderdale delivered the first blow in the 24th minute when Sh’nia Gordon found the back of the net, putting the visitors ahead 1-0.

The Sun battled through the remainder of the opening half but entered the break still searching for an answer.

Then, just when Tampa Bay was ready to begin its comeback, another obstacle arrived.

A power outage forced a delay following half-time, temporarily bringing the match to a standstill. But when play resumed, the Sun returned with a different energy.

Tampa Bay pushed higher, attacked with purpose and began to turn the momentum back in its favor.

The comeback began in the 64th minute.

After entering the match just one minute earlier, Tori Zierenberg made an immediate impact, finding the equalizer off a perfectly timed assist from Sydny Nasello. The goal breathed new life into the stadium and brought the Sun level at 1-1.

Suddenly, the momentum belonged to Tampa Bay.

Sixteen minutes later, the comeback was complete.

In the 80th minute, Shea Connors rose to the moment, finishing a feed from Sabrina McNeill to give the Sun its first lead of the night.

From one goal down to one goal ahead.

From a lengthy delay to a stadium rocking under the lights.

From chasing the match to controlling its final moments.

Fort Lauderdale pushed for an equalizer in the closing minutes, but Tampa Bay stood its ground. The final whistle confirmed what the crowd had begun to believe: the Sun had completed the comeback.

Tampa Bay Sun FC 2, Fort Lauderdale United FC 1.

The victory was a testament to the Sun’s resilience on a night when nothing came easy. Zierenberg provided the spark off the bench, Nasello delivered the assist on the equalizer, and Connors supplied the decisive finish. McNeill, who entered at halftime, set up the game-winning goal.

For 66 minutes, Tampa Bay had been chasing the game.

For the final 10, Fort Lauderdale was chasing Tampa Bay.

And when the final whistle sounded, it was the Sun standing victorious.

MATCH NOTES

• Final: Tampa Bay Sun FC 2, Fort Lauderdale United FC 1
• Halftime: Fort Lauderdale United FC 1, Tampa Bay Sun FC 0
• 24′ — FTL, Sh’nia Gordon
• 64′ — TB, Tori Zierenberg (assist: Sydny Nasello)
• 80′ — TB, Shea Connors (assist: Sabrina McNeill)
• Tampa Bay scored both of its goals in the second half.
• The Sun completed the comeback after trailing 1-0 at half-time.
• Zierenberg scored just one minute after entering the match.
• Connors’ 80th-minute goal proved to be the game-winner.
• A power outage following halftime caused a delay, adding another unexpected chapter to an already dramatic night.

Tampa Bay now turns their attention to the road, heading north to take on DC Power FC at Audi Field this Friday September 18 at 7:00PM ET. The Sun will look to carry the momentum from Saturday night’s comeback into the next challenge.