NASL Jacksonville Armada FC

Armada FC Match Preview: Second Place Armada FC Take Two-Game Win Streak to Atlanta

Published on May 14, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Jacksonville Armada FC News Release


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 14, 2015) - The North American Soccer League's second place Jacksonville Armada FC will hit the road this Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. EST matchup with the Atlanta Silverbacks at Silverbacks Park.

Currently on a two-game winning streak, it will be the Armada FC's first road match in three weeks. The Silverbacks are hosting an opponent for the first time in three weeks.

Below is a breakdown of the first meeting between the clubs.

WHEN & WHERE

Saturday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET | Atlanta Silverbacks Park

Buy Tickets | Weather

THE TEAMS

Jacksonville Armada FC (3W-0D-2L), 2nd in NASL Spring Season Table (9 pts.)

Atlanta Silverbacks (1W-4D-1L), 5th in NASL Spring Season Table (7 pts.)

CLUB QUICK LINKS

Armada FC: News | Roster | Schedule | Season Stats

Silverbacks: News | Roster | Schedule | Season Stats

WATCH

- CW17 in Jacksonville | Cole Pepper - PXP, Mauricio Ruiz - Color and Krissty Andaur - Sideline

- ESPN3

LISTEN

- Sports Radio 930-AM in Jacksonville | Stuart Webber - PXP and David Hayes - Color

- Also streamed live on sportsradiojax.iheart.com

READ

- Live Twitter updates on @ArmadaFCgameday - #ATLvJAX

- Live stats on ArmadaFC.com

WHAT'S AT STAKE

With the Armada FC sitting at second place in the NASL Spring Season Table and five points behind the first place New York Cosmos, a win would go a long way in helping Jacksonville close the gap with five matches left on its slate.

The Armada FC is tied for the league lead with FC Edmonton in total goals scored (nine) and goals per match average (1.8). The offense has been distributed evenly among the team, with four players - Marcos Flores, Bochy Hoyos, Jemal Johnson and Alhassane Keita - recording two goals each. The same can be said about opportunities created with six players - Matt Bahner, Akeil Barrett, Flores, Hoyos, Lucas Scaglia and Lucas Trejo - each notching an assist.

Despite the attack-heavy approach, the Armada FC proved last Saturday in their 1-0 win over Indy Eleven they could also be stout on defense. After a head injury pulled Keita out of the match for nearly 25 minutes, Guillermo Hoyos rolled the dice and played with 10 men. The short-handed situation forced the Armada FC to play ultra-defensive for much of the first half, but the gamble paid off when Keita returned as his presence forced pressure on Indy Eleven defenders. Bahner was named the Farah & Farah Man of the Match after a standout defensive effort in addition to being a factor on offense.

The Silverbacks have been a steady club so far with a 1-4-1 (W-D-L) record. Their only blemish was a 1-0 loss at Minnesota United last Saturday. Atlanta's stingy defensive effort has been led by starting goalkeeper Steward Ceus, who hadn't allowed a goal in 230 minutes before the Minnesota loss.

Despite being tied for last in the league with four goals scored, Atlanta has also only allowed just four goals through six matches. A win for the Silverbacks could mean a jump to as high as second place in the league table.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jacksonville: Hoyos and goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo were named to the NASL Team of the Week on Wednesday. Hoyos, who scored on a header in the 49th minute against Indy Eleven on a cross from Bahner, also won NASL Play of the Week, as voted on by fans. Hoyos is tied with Flores for the team individual points lead with five (two goals and one assist each). Gallardo notched his 28th career clean sheet against Indy and finished with seven saves, a few which were key in shutting down the Eleven's late push.

Atlanta: Ceus, who is a two-time NASL Team of the Week selection this spring, is tied for fourth in the NASL with 13 saves. Shaka Bangura leads the Silverbacks on the attack with two goals and an assist.

NOTABLES

The Silverbacks are the least potent offense and the toughest defense the Armada FC have faced. Atlanta has allowed the second least amount of goals (four) behind New York (three) and is tied with Ottawa for last with the least amount of goals scored (four).

Jacksonville has recorded a 50 percent possession percentage in at least four of its five matches (possession against Fort Lauderdale was not recorded) and has controlled possession percentage in at least three of five matches. The Armada FC were even with Indy Eleven in possession.

Three matches into the Spring Season, 18 of the 24 active players on the Armada FC roster have seen action. Players who have not yet seen the pitch are defenders Jordan Gafa and Ramak Safi, midfielder Nico Zaldana, backup goalkeepers David Sierra and Sebastian Evers and forward Tyler Williams.

The Armada FC is 0-2 on the road in the spring, both of which were bus trips to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and St. Petersburg, Fla. The team is bussing to Atlanta.

LOOKING AHEAD

Following their match this Saturday, the Armada FC return their road swing to take on Minnesota United at 8 p.m. EST on Saturday, May 23 at NSC Stadium in Minneapolis.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



North American Soccer League Stories from May 14, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central