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NASL Jacksonville Armada FC

RECAP: Armada Fall Short After Mounting Stunning Comeback against New York Cosmos

October 15, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Jacksonville Armada FC News Release


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - With 10 minutes to play in their match against the first-place New York Cosmos, Jacksonville Armada FC looked as full of life as they have at any point in club history.

Then, they suffered death by free kick.

After completing a stunning comeback with goals in the 66th and 79th minutes, the Armada (3W-8D-8L, 17 pts., 12th NASL Fall, 4-12-13, 24 pts., 11th Combined) watched their lead evaporate via two free kicks by Cosmos (12-5-3, 41 pts., 1st NASL Fall, 18-5-7, 59pts., 1st NASL Combined) midfielder Juan Arango. A stoppage-time goal by New York's Jairo Arrieta set the final tally, a 4-2 loss at Community First Park.

Arango's first, a left-footed strike from just outside the box in the 83rd, went off the crossbar and eked just inches over the line, sparking a protest that saw Armada forward Alhassane Keita red-carded. The second, in the 88th, was a beautiful curling effort that found its way just inside the far post to rescue three points for the visitors.

Those goals put a damper on what once looked like an immensely bright performance from the Armada.

Although they saw a 293-minute shutout streak snapped when Yohandry Orozco tapped in a rebound in the first half, they didn't crumble.

In the 66th, Charles Eloundou poked a loose ball into the box, where Keita stepped in front of it, shielded Cosmos defender Jimmy Ockford away, turned toward goal and blasted a shot past keeper Jimmy Maurer.

Then, moments after he saw a breakaway attempt stymied by Maurer rushing far out of his net, Zach Steinberger ran onto a rebound from Keita's long-distance strike, took a touch and slammed it into the roof of the net for a 2-1 lead.

It wouldn't last long, however, as the celebration had barely subsided when Arango lined up his first free kick.

The Armada will be back in action Wednesday when they host Miami FC at 7 p.m. - the third in a stretch of four games in 12 days.

Match Report

Starting XI:

JAX (4-2-3-1): Gallardo, Burke, Lagerblom (Eloundou 42'), Johnson (Wallace 89'), Ruthven, Jerome, George (Gebhard 72'), Bahner, Maripuu, Steinberger, Keita

NYC (4-1-4-1): Maurer, Moffat, Richter, Ochieng, Roversio (Ockford 57'), Flores (Szetela 90+3'), Bover, Perez, Arango, Orozco (Diosa 66'), Arrieta

Scoring Summary:

NYC: Orozco 23'

JAX: Keita 66'

JAX: Steinberger 79'

NYC: Arango 83'

NYC: Arango 88'

NYC: Arrieta 90+5'

Discipline:

JAX: Bahner (caution) 37'

NYC: Ochieng (caution) 54'

JAX: Steinberger (caution) 62'

JAX: Keita (caution) 70'

JAX: Gebhard (caution) 81'

JAX: Gallardo (caution) 83'

JAX: Keita (ejection - second caution) 84'

JAX: Eloundou (caution) 87'

Attendance:

3,044



North American Soccer League Stories from October 15, 2016


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