Match Preview | Armada Heads North for Final Road Contest of Season on Sunday

Armada FC Public Relations | Oct. 23, 2015

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With a tremendous inaugural season full of milestones almost over, the Jacksonville Armada FC has one more “first” to achieve – win a road game.

And the Armada will have a chance to do it at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Clarke Field against the only team it has defeated twice this season, FC Edmonton.

Jacksonville is coming off a heartbreaking 3-1 loss to North American Soccer League Fall Season champions, Ottawa Fury FC, on Wednesday night at Community First Park. Despite scoring first off a jaw-dropping 40-yard free kick goal from Haitian defender Mechack Jerome in the 37^th minute, the Armada was not able to keep up with the size of Fury FC and conceded key goals mainly caused by congestion in front of the goal. The defeat officially eliminated the Armada from a spot in The Championship.

FC Edmonton suffered its own tough loss last Saturday at the hands of the Armada in Jacksonville. The Armada was able to take a 1-0 first-half lead on a goal from striker Alhassane Keita, but Keita received his second yellow card in the second half to give the Eddies a one-man advantage and score two quick goals to take a 2-1 lead. Just when a comeback from Jacksonville seemed highly unlikely, the Armada answered with two goals in three minutes, first with a penalty kick from Pascal Millien, then a goal from Akeil Barrett. After several key saves from Armada goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo, the Armada was able to preserve the thrilling 3-2 win.

Though the loss last Saturday did not eliminate FC Edmonton then, Fort Lauderdale’s scoreless draw with San Antonio Wednesday night officially took the Eddies out of contention.

Sunday will also be the first meeting between the clubs in Edmonton. The Armada’s only other trip to Canada this year did not fare well, as Jacksonville fell 2-0 at Ottawa on July 5 in the Fall Season opener.

Below is a breakdown of each team and the match.

WHEN & WHERE
Sunday, Oct. 25 at 4 p.m. ET | Clarke Field
Buy Tickets | Weather

THE TEAMS
Jacksonville Armada FC (5W-3D-9L, 18 pts., 7^th NASL Fall; 8-6-13, 30 pts., 10^th NASL Combined)
FC Edmonton (7W-4D-8L, 25 pts., 5th NASL Fall; 9W-7D-13L, 34 pts., 6th NASL Combined)

SERIES HISTORY
Jacksonville leads, 2-0-0

LAST RESULT
Armada FC 3, FC Edmonton 2 - 10/17/15 in Jacksonville | Recap | Video Highlights

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

WATCH
- CW17 – Cole Pepper, PXP and Bob Veal, Color
- ESPN3

LISTEN
- Live on Sports Radio 930-AM | Kent Justice – PXP and Andy Kidd – Color
- Also streamed live on iHeart app

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

WHAT'S AT STAKE
Though both teams are out of contention for The Championship, a strong finish would mean a lot to both clubs’ fan bases and be a nice springboard to next season. And for the Armada, it is a chance to finally get the road win monkey off its back.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jacksonville: Jemal Johnson will look to have a strong finish to his season in what has been an unlucky past two months for him. Despite tying his career high in goals scored in league play (five) with his strike on Aug. 12 against Carolina, he has been held in check since then. It hasn’t been due to lack of activity though, as he has had 20 shots over nine contests in that time and several near goals. Against a team he scored the fastest goal in league history back on April 4, Johnson is most certainly chomping at the bit to find the back of the net again on Sunday.

FC Edmonton: Daryl Fordyce has been a consistent threat for the Eddies all season and is tied with Lance Laing in goals scored with eight. Fordyce gave the Armada fits last Saturday and connected on a goal in the 62^nd minute off a rebound from a Frank Jonke shot that clanked off the post. The Eddies will also be at full strength on the backline as center back Albert Watson will return from a one-game red card suspension.

NOTABLES

• The Armada is 0-2-12 away from Jacksonville in NASL play this season and 0-2-15 including preseason and U.S. Open Cup play, so it would be an understatement to say a win on Sunday would be monumental. Jacksonville’s road goal differential in league play is minus-21.
   
•  Jacksonville is averaging three goals per match against FC Edmonton this season, its best average against any NASL opponent.
   
• The Armada will be playing its third NASL game on Sunday this season and is 0-1-1 with a loss and draw against Ottawa. Jacksonville is also 1-2-4 on days other than Saturday.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Armada will wrap up its season at home at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1 against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Tickets, starting at $12, can be purchased by calling 1.844.2.ARMADA or visiting armadafc.com.