Armada Seek Revenge against Minnesota United FC Under Friday Night Lights
July 30, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Jacksonville Armada FC News Release
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (July 30, 2015) - The Jacksonville Armada FC will try to keep its winning momentum rolling on Friday when it hosts Minnesota United FC at Community First Park at 7:30 p.m., presented by Winn-Dixie.
After taking last weekend off during a bye week, the Armada will try to duplicate the excitement of their 1-0 win over North American Soccer League Spring Season champions New York Cosmos on July 18 in Jacksonville. Hometown forward Tommy Krizanovic tapped in a Jaime Castrillón header in the 54th minute, giving goalkeeper David Sierra all he needed to preserve the shutout. Sierra recorded a season-high seven saves and his eighth-career clean sheet. Jacksonville was also without regular starters Alhassane Keita (red card suspension), Marcos Flores (injured), Matt Bahner (injured), Miguel Gallardo (coach's decision) and Pascal Millien (international duty).
Minnesota has won two straight and is fresh off a 4-3 win over 2014 NASL champions San Antonio Scorpions last Saturday evening in San Antonio. Both Christian Ramirez and Kalif Alhassan took part in all of the Loons' goals. Alhassan notched two assists, tallying one on Ramirez's 11th minute goal, another on Ibson's 37th minute strike. Alhassan also netted a goal in the 48th minute. Ramirez recorded an assist on Justin Davis' 22nd minute score.
It will be the first meeting in Jacksonville between the teams and the first time the Armada has played a home match at Community First Park on a Friday night. United FC owns a 2-0-0 series advantage, winning the previous meetings 3-2 on May 23 and 4-0 on July 15 in Blaine, Minn. The Armada were shorthanded in the July 15 match, playing without Bahner and most of the match without Flores, who went down with an injury in the 35th minute, and Keita, who received a red card in the 45th minute. Jacksonville's best two scoring chances came from forward Jemal Johnson, with one attempt just missing in the 54th minute and the other being saved in the 70th minute by United FC goalkeeper Sammy Ndjock.
Prior to Friday night's match, the Armada will join with Winn-Dixie in hosting a food drive in support of the Feeding Northeast Florida food bank. Fans who contribute a non-perishable food item will receive a buy one, get one ticket voucher for the Armada's next home match on Wednesday, Aug. 12 against Carolina RailHawks.
Below is a breakdown of each team and the match.
WHEN & WHERE
Friday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET | Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville
THE TEAMS
Jacksonville Armada FC (1W-0D-3L, 3 pts., 11th NASL Fall; 4-3-7, 15 pts., 10th NASL Combined)
Minnesota United FC (2W-1D-1L, 7 pts., 3rd in NASL Fall; 5-6-0, 21 pts., 5th NASL Combined)
SERIES HISTORY
Minnesota leads, 2-0-0
LAST RESULT
United FC 4, Armada FC 0 - 7/15/15 in Blaine, Minn. | Recap | Video Highlights
WATCH
- CW17 in Jacksonville | Cole Pepper - PXP, Bob Veal - Color and Krissty Andaur - Sideline
- ESPN3
LISTEN
- Sports Radio 930-AM in Jacksonville | Stuart Webber - PXP and Matt Hollyoak - Color
- Also streamed live on sportsradiojax.iheart.com
READ
- Live Twitter updates on @ArmadaFCgameday - #JAXvMNU
- Live stats on ArmadaFC.com
WHAT'S AT STAKE
With Jacksonville's recent win over Spring Season champion New York, the Armada have found a new wave of momentum and will try to keep it going. Another three points could vault Jacksonville to as high as sixth place on the Fall Season and Combined tables.
United FC currently sits in third on the Fall Season table, so a win would catapult them to second place and potentially put them in a tie with Ottawa for first in the Combined standings.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jacksonville: Jacksonville's frontline will be a good place to focus on for this match with the return of leading goal scorer Pascal Millien from his tour of international duty with the Haitian national team and Alhassane Keita, who served a one-match suspension from the red card he received in the Armada's last match against Minnesota. Millien scored in the 71st minute of the Armada's first meeting with the Loons on May 23, while Johnson also scored in the 83rd minute.
Minnesota: The Armada might key in on both Ramirez and Campos. Ramirez, the 2014 NASL Golden Boot winner, and Campos, the league's all-time leading goal scorer, have each netted goals in both matches against Jacksonville.
NOTABLES
Friday's match will be the second in a stretch of four home matches in a span of five overall. The Armada are 3-1-1 at Community First Park and 4-1-1 overall in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville has a tendency get out to a fast start in wins. When scoring first, the Armada are 4-0-0.
The Armada will have a new forward available on Friday. The club announced the signing of 19-year-old Derek Gebhard on Thursday . Gebhard recently played with NPSL side Jacksonville United FC and played a season of college soccer at Florida Gulf Coast University.
LOOKING AHEAD
Jacksonville will hit the road for an in-state showdown at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Armada will try to get on the board in the Coastal Cup standings, as they are currently six points behind both the Rowdies and Fort Lauderdale Strikers. The Armada return to Jacksonville for the club's first home Wednesday night match on Aug. 12 against the Carolina RailHawks.
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North American Soccer League Stories from July 30, 2015
- FCE Match Preview vs. Ottawa Fury FC - FC Edmonton
- Armada Seek Revenge against Minnesota United FC Under Friday Night Lights - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Match Preview: RailHawks to Host Tampa Bay Rowdies Saturday at 7:30 pm - North Carolina FC
- Loons Prepared to Sweep Armada - Minnesota United FC
- FC Edmonton Announces Signing of Midfielder Dustin Corea - FC Edmonton
- Armada FC Sign Florida Product Derek Gebhard - Jacksonville Armada FC
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