Preview: Match Day 7 - Jacksonville Armada FC at Atlanta Silverbacks

Published on May 15, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


ATLANTA - The Atlanta Silverbacks host the North American Soccer League's newest expansion side, Jacksonville Armada FC, on Saturday (7:30 p.m., ESPN3), presented by Georgia State Soccer Association.

Just 357 miles separate Atlanta Silverbacks Park and The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, home of Armada FC. By a mere 31 miles, Jacksonville is now the Silverbacks' closest neighboring team. A pretty good regional rivalry already exists with the Carolina RailHawks, who's WakeMed Soccer Park stands 388 miles away.

Not only is Jacksonville close in proximity, but it has quickly put together one of the best products the NASL has to offer. Along with the New York Cosmos and FC Edmonton, Jacksonville is one of only three teams to have scored nine goals through the season thus far. Marcos Flores leads the Armada with two goals on the season.

It's true that Jacksonville has been deadly at home. In fact, they have yet to lose there. With as many fans coming out to see them, they better not. Jacksonville's inaugural game set the modern-day NASL attendance record with 16,164 screaming fans making it to the park.

They are not playing at home, though. They're playing in Atlanta against one of the stingiest defensive teams in the league. In their short history, Jacksonville's games away from home have been the exact opposite of their games at home. They haven't won on the road.

Out of the goals that the team has conceded, 71 percent have been on the road. It has given up 1.4 goals per game. The league average is 1.2 per game. Both of Armada FC's losses were handed out by the two other Florida teams in the NASL.

They currently sit second in the table with nine points. The two teams that separate Atlanta and Jacksonville in the table, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Fort Lauderdale Strikers, also are scheduled to showdown this weekend. Therefore, a win over the Armada could send Atlanta into a more solidified playoff spot. The league's split season will see four teams - the Spring and Fall Season champions and the teams with the highest total points in the Combined Table - qualify for the playoffs.

While the Silverbacks still have a long season to play, but it would definitely add a nice bit of confidence.

From everything seen so far, Jacksonville is a good team with an audaciously high powered attack. On the road, their defense hasn't done so well, though. It's an important game for both Atlanta and Jacksonville. With the tensions of their Florida rivals also vying for a top spot this weekend, Jacksonville should be feeling even more pressure than usual. Atlanta has all it needs to pull away with a win.

Florida has always given the state of Georgia an endless supply of teams to hate. This weekend will add another to an already long list.

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North American Soccer League Stories from May 15, 2015


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