Match Preview: Armada FC Head North for Crucial Showdown with Minnesota on Saturday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 21, 2015) – The Jacksonville Armada FC will hit the road this Saturday for a crucial road fixture against Minnesota United FC at 8 p.m. EST Saturday at NSC Stadium in Blaine, Minn.

Currently on a three-match unbeaten streak, it will be the Armada FC’s second-straight road match. Minnesota, affectionately referred to by its fans as the Loons, is returning home after a road match with Indy Eleven last weekend.

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

WHEN & WHERE
Saturday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET | NSC Stadium
Buy Tickets | Weather

THE TEAMS
Jacksonville Armada FC (3W-1D-2L), 3rd in NASL Spring Season Table (10 pts.)
Minnesota United FC (2W-3D-1L), 4^th in NASL Spring Season Table (9 pts.)

CLUB QUICK LINKS
Armada FC: News | Roster | Schedule | Season Stats
United FC: News | Roster | Schedule | Season Stats

WATCH
- CW17 in Jacksonville | Cole Pepper - PXP, Bob Veal - Color and Krissty Andaur - Sideline
- ESPN3

LISTEN
- Sports Radio 930-AM in Jacksonville | Stuart Webber - PXP and Mauricio Ruiz - Color
- Also streamed live on sportsradiojax.iheart.com

READ
- Live Twitter updates on @ArmadaFCgameday - #MNUvJAX
- Live stats on ArmadaFC.com

WHAT'S AT STAKE
For each club, every match from here on out is important. With the Armada FC standing at 10 points and United FC standing at nine points in the NASL Spring Season table, respectively, each club controls its own destiny. If either team wins each remaining game on its schedule, it will win the NASL Spring Season title and bid to the Championship Playoff.

The New York Cosmos are in first with 15 points but still have to play both the Armada FC and United. Jacksonville and New York meet on June 13 in the final NASL Spring regular season contest for each club, and a couple of scenarios exist in which it could turn out to be the de facto Spring Season championship match. The simplest scenario would be in which both the Armada FC and Cosmos win each of their remaining NASL matches heading into the finale (three for Jacksonville, two for New York).

Although the Armada FC hasn’t yet won on the road, they were able to come away with a point from last Saturday’s 1-1 road draw with the Atlanta Silverbacks and had a few opportunities to grab the win. After Jacksonville allowed a quick goal to Atlanta’s Hans Dennisen less than 30 seconds into the match, Armada FC forward Alhassane Keita answered in the 20^th minute by sticking his strike on the far right post past Silverbacks goalkeeper Steward Ceus on a feed from midfielder Marcos Flores.

Jacksonville is second in the league for goals scored per match (1.7) and has averaged 1.3 goals in its three road matches.

Minnesota had a late surge of offense in its 3-1 victory over Indy Eleven last Saturday in Indianapolis. Kalif Alhassan, Justin Davis and Juliano Vicentini all ended on the United scoresheet. After Indy leveled the match at 1-1 in the 49^th minute, United reclaimed the lead when Davis knocked in a rebound off a save in the 63^rd minute. The Loons tacked on another goal in the 83^rd minute when Vicentini connected on an open shot from a through ball by Christian Ramirez.

United has had a healthy balance of attacking and defending with eight goals scored and six goals allowed (tied for second in the league) in six games played.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jacksonville: Keita, who is Jacksonville’s leading goal scorer and tied for second in the NASL with three, was named to the NASL Team of the Week on Wednesday. He was also named to the Team of the Week on May 6 after his stoppage time-winning goal in the Armada FC’s 2-1 victory over defending league champions San Antonio Scorpions on May 2 in Jacksonville. He was also named NASL Player of the Week on May 4 for his efforts against the Scorpions. Flores is the Armada FC’s individual points leader with six (two goals, two assists) and was also named to the NASL Team of the Week on May 6. He was also named the Farah & Farah Man of the Match last Saturday against Atlanta. Starting goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo, who has 38 career clean sheets, is tied for sixth in the NASL with 13 saves.

Minnesota: United is highlighted by U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Miguel Ibarra, who leads the Loons in scoring chances created with two assists and has also scored a goal. He was the 2014 NASL Golden Ball winner (Player of the Year) and was the first-ever NASL player to be called up to the U.S. Men’s National Team, making his debut on Oct. 14, 2014. Minnesota also boasts the NASL’s top goal scorer from 2014 (Christian Ramirez) and NASL leader in career goals scored (Pablo Campos).

NOTABLES

• Armada FC midfielder Lucas Rodriguez will be returning to familiar territory on Saturday. A member of United FC (formerly known as NSC Minnesota) from 2010-13, Rodriguez made more than 60 appearances and notched seven goals in his time with the Loons and won the 2011 NASL Championship with the club.
   

• It will be the first match the Armada FC plays outside of the South, including preseason and regular season contests. The furthest north Jacksonville has played so far has been Charleston, S.C., when it took on the Charleston Battery on Feb. 18 in a preseason friendly. Atlanta has been the Armada FC’s furthest NASL trip north.
   

• Jacksonville has recorded a 50 percent possession percentage in at least five of its six matches (Fort Lauderdale was not recorded) and has controlled possession percentage in at least four of six matches. The Armada FC were even with Indy Eleven in possession and had their highest possession advantage of the season against Atlanta last Saturday at 58 to 42 percent.

LOOKING AHEAD
Following their match this Saturday, the Armada FC will hit the road for its inaugural Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third round match at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27 against the Richmond Kickers at Richmond City Stadium. The Armada FC will then return home for an NASL fixture against the Carolina RailHawks at 7:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, May 30 at Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.