NASL Jacksonville Armada FC

Armada FC Match Preview: Coastal Cup Kicks off Saturday in Fort Lauderdale

Published on April 8, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Jacksonville Armada FC News Release


Saturday, April 11 | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | 7:30 p.m.

Lockhart Stadium | Weather | Tickets

Coverage TV: CW17 in Jacksonville

(Armada FC broadcast - Cole Pepper - PXP and Bob Veal - Color)

Live Audio: Streamed on sportsradiojax.iheart.com on IHeart App

(Armada FC broadcast - Stuart Webber PXP and Andy Kidd - Color)

Live Video: Streamed on ESPN3.com

(Fort Lauderdale Strikers broadcast)

Twitter: @ArmadaFCgameday

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (April 8, 2015) - After a fairytale beginning last Saturday, the Jacksonville Armada FC will try to keep their momentum going when they head south to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for a 7:30 p.m. matchup this Saturday with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Currently sitting tied for second in the NASL Spring Season table, the Armada FC will seek to unleash their potent offensive attack led by Marcos Flores, Alhassane Keita and Jemal Johnson, each of whom scored goals in the club's 3-1 win over FC Edmonton on April 4.

The Strikers will try to even their record after falling 1-0 to the New York Cosmos on a 58th minute goal by New York's Leo Fernandes. Fort Lauderdale, which sits in eighth place in the NASL, set a club attendance record with 11,691 at Lockhart Stadium.

DROPPING THE ANCHOR

The Armada FC will look to continue their momentum from last Saturday's win. An NASL modern-era record crowd of 16,164 packed into EverBank Field and saw Johnson score a goal just 12 seconds into the match, which also set an NASL record previously held by Fafà Picault, who scored his goal 26 seconds into a match against Indy Eleven on Sept. 20, 2014, as a member of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Keita was named Farah & Farah Man of the Match. Goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo recorded four saves.

The Armada FC and Strikers split their preseason meetings, with each team coming out on top at their respective home stadiums. Jacksonville won 1-0 in an intense match with steady rain on Feb. 28 at Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Shawn Nicklaw's 45th minute goal proved to be the game winner. Gallardo notched six saves. The Strikers had a steady barrage of offense in their 5-0 win on March 21 in Fort Lauderdale. Stefano Pinho led the scoring with two goals (17th minute and 43rd minute).

It will be the first contest of the 2015 Coastal Cup competition, a trophy awarded to the best soccer team in regular season play among the Armada FC, Strikers and Tampa Bay Rowdies. First contested in 2010, the Rowdies won the first four trophies, but the Strikers won the competition in 2014.

Johnson will return to Fort Lauderdale to take on his former club. He spent the 2013 spring season with the Strikers, scoring one goal and notching one assist in 11 appearances. He is 1-0-1 in regular season play against Fort Lauderdale, making both appearances with the New York Cosmos in the 2014 Fall Season. Johnson scored a goal against the Strikers on July 27, 2014, in a 1-1 draw in Fort Lauderdale. His last regular season appearance against the Strikers was on Sept. 7, 2014, in a 2-0 Cosmos win in New York.

SCOUTING THE STRIKERS

In their 1-0 loss to the Cosmos last Saturday, the Strikers couldn't capitalize on several goal-scoring opportunities and lost the tempo to the strong attacking presence of the Cosmos front line in the second half. Led by head coach Marcelo Neveleff, who was a coach for former USL team Jacksonville Cyclones, the Strikers also bring an up-tempo mindset. The club outshot New York 14-8 and had near scores from Pinho, Leo Moura and Victor "PC" Giro.

LOOKING AHEAD

Following their match this Saturday, the Armada FC will have their first bye week of the 2015 regular season. The club will return to action on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 25 at Al Lang Stadium.

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