NASL Jacksonville Armada FC

Armada Dominates Key Stats But Can't Convert in Loss to Rayo OKC

Published on May 7, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Jacksonville Armada FC News Release


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - You cannot win if you do not score, and that is increasingly becoming the problem for the Jacksonville Armada.

Facing what several players called a "must-win" against expansion side Rayo OKC, the Boys in Blue couldn't muster a goal and notched their second 1-0 loss of the homestand in front of 5,313 at Community First Park on Saturday night.

In the 70th minute, Rayo substitute and former U.S. men's national teamer Robbie Findley beat Armada goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo to a Michel cross, and he headed it in for the decisive goal.

That leaves Jacksonville (1W-1D-3L, 4 pts. 10th NASL Spring) decidedly on the outside looking of the 10-game spring race, with a rare two-straight home losses and an overall goal-less streak of 254 minutes.

Playing their second match in four days, the Armada had to make five changes from the lineup that lost to FC Edmonton on Wednesday.

Patrick Otte came in at right back alongside holdovers Matt Bahner, Tyler Ruthven and Mechack Jérôme, in front of Gallardo.

The midfield saw major changes, as the team moved from a 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 and only returned two players from the front six.

Richie Ryan reprised his role as holding midfielder, with new partners in Nicolas Perea and Lucas Scaglia, who made his first start of the season after overcoming a knee injury.

Up top, Matt Fondy kept up his starting streak at striker, flanked by Junior Sandoval and Danny Barrow, who made his first professional start.

After a series of early chances went nowhere, Rayo OKC nearly broke through in the 25th when forward Richard Menjivar beat Jérôme and went through on goal. But Bahner came crashing in from the side to disrupt the shot, and Gallardo made the save.

Only seconds later, midfielder Michel had an open volley from the middle of the box, but he pushed it wide left.

Crosses and corners - long the bane of the Armada's existence - looked much better. Ryan nearly connected with Fondy on an 11th minute corner, and Fondy forced a save in the 31st after heading down a beautiful long ball from Jérôme.

Jérôme nearly got himself a goal minutes later when he forced a diving stop on a shot from distance, and Bahner headed just wide after a perfect back-post corner from Scaglia.

The opportunities kept coming after the break, but neither squad could break through.

Perea forced a tip save after a cross from Barrow, Fondy caused a ruckus in the box after drawing tons of attention on a corner kick, Billy Forbes fired just wide for Rayo OKC and Gallardo came out to smother a dangerous cross from Findley.

In the 59th, Armada head coach Tony Meola looked to add some firepower by bringing on Pascal Millien for Barrow, and the Haitian winger immediately began zipping around, looking to make the most of his time after being subbed off around the hour mark of the previous two contests.

Moments later, Sandoval and Fondy nearly connected for what would have been a beautiful goal. Sandoval popped the ball up near the top of the box, then took off for the goal and ran onto a perfect headed pass from Fondy. But he couldn't control his shot, blasting it over the top to spoil what was the squad's best look of the night.

Meola made another attacking change in the 68th, bringing on forward Alex Dixon for Scaglia, but it didn't add make the impact he hoped for.

Two minutes later, Findley headed in the go-ahead goal, and he nearly added a second when he was ruled offside after a back post tap-in.

That placed the Armada into all-out attack mode, desperate for a goal.

Forward Derek Gebhard subbed on for Otte, leaving the home side with a three-man back line for the final 16 minutes. But they were never able to find an equalizer, despite huge advantages in possession, shots, passes and passing accuracy.

Fondy had the last-gasp chance in stoppage time but had his header deflected wide, and Jérôme's shot on the ensuing corner was blocked.

The Armada will look to rebound next Saturday when it travels to Minnesota United FC for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff. The match will be broadcast live locally on CW17 (pre-match coverage starting at 7:30 p.m.) and nationally on beIN Sports. It will also air on Project 106.9-FM in Jacksonville (pre-match coverage starting at 7:30 p.m.).

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North American Soccer League Stories from May 7, 2016


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