Match Preview: Armada Look for 3 Points in Coastal Cup Clash with Rowdies

Armada FC Public Relations | Aug. 7, 2015

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Armada FC will hit the road for a highly anticipated Coastal Cup showdown with the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Armada tied their season high in goals scored last time out when they played to a 3-3 draw with Minnesota United FC on Friday, July 31. Forward Jemal Johnson, who was named Farah & Farah Man of the Match and earned a spot on the North American Soccer League Team of the Week for his performance, scored a goal just five minutes into the contest and added an assist on Alhassane Keita's strike in the 72^nd minute. Jamaican Akeil Barrett added to the attack in the 23^rd minute with his first career goal. Armada goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo, who tied his season high with seven saves, made a highlight-reel stop in the 54^th minute off a shot from United FC forward Christian Ramirez that was named No. 1 on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 plays.

Rowdies midfielder Georgi Hristov found the back of the net in the 29^th minute of their match last Saturday with the Carolina RailHawks on a one-timer off a pass from defender Darnell King. But just three minutes later, RailHawks midfielder Mark Anderson hit the equalizer, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Although they sit in third place on the NASL Combined Table, the Rowdies are on a four-game winless streak and have not won since their Fall Season opening 2-1 win over the Atlanta Silverbacks on July 4.

In their previous trip to Al Lang Stadium on April 25, the Armada sustained a gut-wrenching 3-2 loss after taking a 2-1 lead into halftime. Midfielder Marcos Flores scored in the 12^th minute on a tap in from his missed penalty kick, while Johnson blasted a shot from 20 yards out in the 31^st minute. Tampa Bay snatched momentum away in the second half when Martin Nuñez beat Gallardo in the 59^th minute on a curling shot from 16 yards out and Maicon Santos headed in a pass from Hristov in the 77^th minute. Tampa Bay 'keeper Matt Pickens, who was thrust into the game in the 88^th minute after starter Kamil Contofalský went down with an injury, came up big in the waning moments and swatted away several dangerous Armada shots.

Below is a breakdown of each team and the match.

WHEN & WHERE
Saturday, Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET | Al Lang Stadium
Buy Tickets | Weather

THE TEAMS
Jacksonville Armada FC (1W-1D-3L, 4 pts., 11^th NASL Fall; 4-4-7, 16 pts., 11^th NASL Combined)
Tampa Bay Rowdies (1W-1D-3L, 4 pts., 10^th in NASL Fall; 6-5-4, 23 pts., 3^rd NASL Combined)

SERIES HISTORY
Tampa Bay leads, 1-0-0

LAST RESULT
Rowdies 3, Armada FC 2 - 4/25/15 in St. Petersburg, Fla. | Recap | Video Highlights

CLUB QUICK LINKS
Armada FC: News | Roster | Schedule | Season Stats
Rowdies: 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 Andy Kidd - Color
- Also streamed live on sportsradiojax.iheart.com

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

WHAT'S AT STAKE
In addition to trying to move up the North American Soccer League Fall Season and Combined Tables, it will also be an opportunity for the Armada to cut into the Coastal Cup lead of Tampa Bay and Fort Lauderdale, which are tied with six points each.

In the midst of their win drought, three points for the Rowdies would help them stabilize their position at the top of the Combined Standings, where they sit in third with 23 points behind the New York Cosmos (28 points) and Ottawa Fury FC (27 points).

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jacksonville: Barrett has made the most of the opportunities given to him. After making his debut on May 2 against San Antonio and orchestrating his team's game-winning goal in stoppage time with the assist on Keita's strike, he established himself as a player that can provide a much-needed spark. He could reprise his role as the attacking midfielder and force the Rowdies to pick their poison between him, Keita, Millien and Johnson, who have combined for 13 of the team's 19 goals.

Tampa Bay: Hristov has been the maestro of the Tampa Bay attack, recording a league-leading five assists. The Rowdies signed forward Omar Salgado on loan from Mexican club Tigres UANL last Wednesday. The 6-foot-4 forward played for Coach Thomas Rongen for the United States Under-20 Men's National Team and will be with Tampa Bay for the remainder of the NASL season.

NOTABLES

• Both Millien and defender Jordan Gafa will be returning to a place where they both began their professional careers. Millien began his career with then-FC Tampa Bay in 2010 and scored five goals and made 52 appearances in two season with the club. He was also a three-year starter for the University of Tampa, where he helped the Spartans to an NCAA Division II Final Four appearance in 2008 and was a first-team All-American. Gafa played for the Rowdies in 2013 and 2014, making 14 appearances with the club. In his first return to Al Lang Stadium on April 25, Millien got his first start in an Armada kit at right forward and logged 90 minutes.
   
• The Armada are still looking for their first win on the road this season, holding a 0-2-6 record away from Jacksonville. Their previous trip to St. Petersburg has arguably been the closest they have been to a road win as it is the only away game this season in which they've held a lead.
   
• Jacksonville is a team that likes to get out of the gates fast. Eight of its 19 goals have occurred within the first 15 minutes of each half (four scored in minutes 0-15, four scored in minutes 46-60).

LOOKING AHEAD
The Armada return to Jacksonville for the club's first home Wednesday night match on Aug. 12 against the Carolina RailHawks. The Armada will also host the Atlanta Silverbacks at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15. Jacksonville will be looking for its first win over each club. Tickets to each match, starting at $12, can be purchased by calling 1.844.2.Armada or visiting armadafc.com.