Armada Battle to Scoreless Draw with Scorpions in Rain-Soaked Contest

Mike McCall, ArmadaFC.com | Aug. 30, 2015

Final Stats

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Halfway through the Fall Season, the stakes are changing for Jacksonville Armada FC.

Each week is no longer just about showing signs of growth or positive steps during their inaugural voyage in the NASL. Now, with the final stretch zooming into focus, it’s about results.

And that’s why, despite a strong performance and a string of defensive successes that would have once seemed unthinkable, Saturday’s 0-0 draw with the San Antonio Scorpions just wasn’t quite enough.

The Armada ran their home unbeaten streak to six games (3W-3D-0L) in NASL play and notched a third-straight clean sheet at home, but the two points they left on the table could loom large in their race for a spot in the NASL Playoffs.

Currently sitting four points out of the final at-large berth, Jacksonville can’t afford to settle for a point when three are there for the taking.

“Definitely, we needed that win,” forward Akeil Barrett said. “It’s just one of those games, but we have to learn from it and come back.”

There weren’t many glaring errors to point to.

After weather postponed kickoff by more than 90 minutes, the Armada played a match that was every bit as electrifying as the lightning that delayed it.

Strikes could be seen throughout the first half — flashy near-misses that were replicated on the field.

With a slew of absences, the Armada had to get a bit creative by inserting forward Tyler Williams at right back for his first career start. They also welcomed back attacking midfielder Marcos Flores, who hadn’t played since July 15 — long enough to grow a full beard — and placed Barrett at center forward in place of Alhassane Keita.

Having a forward at the back, coupled with the Armada’s attacking mindset, promised a thrilling matchup against San Antonio’s 5-4-1 system, which was organized to spring counterattacks via forward Omar Cummings, who entered Saturday as the NASL’s top goal-scorer.

Both teams came out firing, spawning back-and-forth, end-to-end action.

Armada 'keeper Miguel Gallardo stuffed Marvin Chavez on a free kick early, then did the same to Cummings on a breakaway. Gallardo went on to receive Farah & Farah Man of the Match honors, and his best work came around the half hour mark, when the Armada summoned some miraculous defending to keep the match scoreless.

Cummings broke away again and looked destined to score, but as he tried to go around Gallardo, the keeper knocked the ball away. Then Lucas Scaglia managed to block the follow-up shot on a would-be open goal to end the threat.

The Scorpions had two other great chances in the second half, when substitute Billy Forbes blasted a point-blank shot over the top after a feed from Cummings, and captain Rafael Castillo had a 90^th minute would-be game-winner stymied by a deflection and the crossbar.

The hosts were active as well.

Jemal Johnson nearly opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he turned and ripped a shot into the top right corner, but he was ruled offside. Pascal Millien also had a good look after a cut-back pass from Jaime Castrillon, but he sailed it over the top.

In the 37^th, Barrett forced a save from San Antonio 'keeper Daniel Fernandes, and the net-minder came up big again minutes later to stop Johnson’s free kick.

Barrett almost broke the deadlock after the half, when Millien slipped in a perfect through-ball, but his shot went inches wide of the far post.

Millien forced Fernandes into action again in the 63^rd, when he got on the end of a perfect cross from left back Lucas Rodriguez, but the Scorpions' 'keeper was there for the save.

In the end, it’s the attack that bears responsibility for the dropped points.

Head coach Guillermo Hoyos was focused on the positive elements of playing well despite injuries and a weather delay, bright outings from Williams and substitute Derek Gebhard, and maintaining another clean sheet.

But there was still that unshakable feeling of an opportunity missed.

“I'm very happy that tonight we didn't get scored on, but I would have been way happier if we would have gotten three points," Gallardo said.

Their next chance will come next Saturday, when they travel to face Indy Eleven at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Having seemingly addressed a defense that once leaked goals, the Armada now must face their second demon: playing on the road. In five away games this Fall Season, Jacksonville is 0-0-5, and they’ll have three away before returning home.

NASL Fall Season
Armada FC 0, Scorpions 0
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015
Community First Park – Jacksonville, Fla.

Attendance: 7,058

Scoring Summary:
none

Discipline Summary:
JAX – Scaglia (caution), 27’
SAS – Rusin (caution), 62’

Armada FC Lineup (4-3-3): Miguel Gallardo (GK), Lucas Rodriguez (Joseph Toby, 68’), Nicolas Perea, Fabricio Ortiz, Tyler Williams (Tommy Krizanovic, 45’), Lucas Scaglia, Marcos Flores (Derek Gebhard, 68’), Jaime Castrillon, Jemal Johnson, Akeil Barrett, Pascal Millien

Armada FC Bench: David Sierra (GK), Ethan Sonis, Nurdin Hrustic, Tommy Krizanovic, Joseph Toby, Ramak Safi, Derek Gebhard

Scorpions Lineup (4-5-1): Daniel Fernandes (GK), Stephen DeRoux, Zourab Tsiskaridze, Brad Rusin, Nana Attakora, Milton Palacios, Marvin Chavez (Billy Forbes, 58’), Rafael Castillo, Tyler Gibson, Cesar Elizondo (Guiseppe Gentile, 74’), Omar Cummings

Scorpions Bench: Daryl Sattler (GK), Adrian Cann, Billy Forbes, Eric Hassli, Joseph Nane, Giuseppe Gentile