Match Preview: Armada Return Home for Rematch with San Antonio on Military Appreciation Night

Armada FC Public Relations | Aug. 28, 2015

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After a tough 1-0 loss at the San Antonio Scorpions last Saturday, the Jacksonville Armada FC will return to Community First Park for Military Appreciation Night at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday in a rematch with the Scorpions. The match is presented by Key Auto.

The Armada, who are unbeaten in four straight at home, took a two-game winning streak into their North American Soccer League showdown with the Scorpions last week, and for most of the match, it looked like that streak would be extended. Jacksonville controlled momentum for most of the match and ended up with a 55-45 percent possession advantage, but in the 64^th minute, San Antonio broke through on a counterattack led by Scorpions forward Billy Forbes.

Forbes, who had subbed into the contest just five minutes earlier, streaked down the side and took a Tyler Gibson pass on his way to getting an angle on Armada goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo and bouncing the ball into the goal. Despite the Armada's best efforts to swarm San Antonio 'keeper Daniel Fernandes, he was able to stop everything blasted his way to preserve the lead.

The Armada and Scorpions previously squared off in Jacksonville on May 2 in a match that looked destined for a draw, but some late-match heroics by Akeil Barrett, Alhassane Keita and Miguel Gallardo lifted Jacksonville to a 2-1 win. After a goal in the fourth minute by Pascal Millien off a Marcos Flores assist, San Antonio forward Omar Cummings hit the equalizer in the eighth minute with an eye-popping scissor kick.

Although there were a few near goals for each team after that, the climax came in the third minute of second half stoppage time when Barrett, who subbed on in the 83rd minute, started a breakaway at midfield, juked out San Antonio's Joseph Nane and fed a picture-perfect through ball to Keita, who rolled it past Scorpions goalkeeper Daryl Sattler to take a 2-1 lead. Gallardo preserved the lead with a couple of key stops in the 95th minute.

Below is a breakdown of each team and the match.

WHEN & WHERE
Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET | Community First Park
Buy Tickets | Weather

THE TEAMS
Jacksonville Armada FC (3W-1D-4L, 10 pts., 8^th NASL Fall; 6-4-9, 22 pts., 10^th NASL Combined)
San Antonio Scorpions (2W-2D-4L, 8 pts., 10^th in NASL Fall; 5-5-8, 20 pts., 11^th NASL Combined)

SERIES HISTORY
Series tied, 1-0-1

LAST RESULT
Scorpions 1, Armada FC 0 - 8/22/15 in San Antonio | Recap | Video Highlights

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

WATCH
- CW17 in Jacksonville | Cole Pepper - PXP, Mauricio Ruiz - Color and Krissty Andaur - Sideline
- ESPN3.com

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

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

WHAT'S AT STAKE
With the Armada still just four points away from a potential NASL Championship playoff spot, their showdown at home against the Scorpions is arguably a must-win after coming away with no points in San Antonio last weekend. And in addition to extending its unbeaten streak at home, Jacksonville also try to make it three straight shutouts at home.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Scorpions have not won on the road in four-straight contests and are conceding an average of three goals per match away from San Antonio. Even so, with the Scorpions at 20 points in the Combined standings, just two wins would put them in contention for the postseason play.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jacksonville: Although he doesn't record any notable stats like goals or assists very often, midfielder Lucas Scaglia has been an unsung hero at helping hold the midfield and keeping the ball moving forward. Scaglia, who was named Farah & Farah Man of the Match last Saturday against the Scorpions after stifling the San Antonio attack for much of the game, has logged 1,530 minutes this season, second most on the team.

San Antonio: The four-headed monster of Omar Cummings, Billy Forbes, Marvin Chavez and Cesar Elizondo have combined for 16 of San Antonio's 26 goals. Cummings leads the team and NASL with 10 goals, while Forbes also has a team-leading six assists to go along with his four goals. To complement the attack, defender Stephen DeRoux and goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes led the Scorpions to their shutout performance against the Armada last Saturday and were named to the NASL Team of the Week on Wednesday.

NOTABLES

• Anchored by three clean sheets at home, the Armada are conceding less than a goal per game at Community First Park during the Fall Season. San Antonio is averaging 1.25 goals per game on the road but is also allowing an average of three goals per game away from home.
   
• Hampered by injuries and red cards, it has been a challenge for the Armada to trot out the same starting 11 every match. In fact, Jacksonville has not had the same starting lineup in consecutive matches since May 30 against the Carolina RailHawks and June 7 against Ottawa Fury FC. Out of a 4-3-3 formation, the lineup was Miguel Gallardo (GK), Lucas Rodriguez (LB),  Lucas Trejo (LCB), Fabricio Ortiz (RCB), Matt Bahner (RB), Lucas Scaglia (LM), Bochy Hoyos (CM), Jaime Castrillon (RM), Jemal Johnson (LF), Marcos Flores (CF) and Pascal Millien (RF).
   
• If the Fall Season table only included home matches, the Armada would be tied for second with the New York Cosmos with 10 points and behind Fall Season leader Ottawa Fury FC, which has recorded 13 points at home.

BOYS IN BLUE GOING FOR GOLD ON SATURDAY 
For the first time in club history, the Armada will wear their brand-new gold alternate kits on Saturday. The Nike uniforms, which were unveiled at a press conference in June, feature gold tops and shorts with navy blue numbering and lettering along with a navy blue stripe across the chest and sleeves. The shirts feature Nike Dri-Fit technology, the most advanced materials for better performance, a lighter and stronger fabric that allows for more free body movement and fuller range of motion with additional laser cut holes for added temperature control. As on the Armada's home and away kits, Winn-Dixie is the main jersey sponsor with its logo across the chest. The Community First Credit Union logo adorns the back of the jersey, while the Key Auto logo is on the right sleeve. The alternate jerseys will be available for purchase at Community First Park on Saturday in section 106 and are also available on WeGotSoccer.com/ArmadaFC.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Armada will head to Indianapolis to take on Indy Eleven at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 5. The match will be broadcast live on CW17, with pre-match coverage starting at 7 p.m. Fans not traveling to the match can join their fellow supporters at the CW17 Armada FC Watch Party presented by Community First Credit Union at Engine 15 in Jacksonville Beach (1500 Beach Blvd #217). The contest will also be broadcast live on Sports Radio 930-AM in Jacksonville and streamed live on sportsradiojax.iheart.com and on the iHeart Radio app.