RECAP: Keita Finds Back of Net in Loss

Armada FC Public Relations | Aug. 3, 2016
Photo courtesy Indy Eleven/Matt Schlotzhauer

Final Stats

INDIANAPOLIS – Alhassane Keita found the back of the net for the first time in league play this season and almost had another on Wednesday night, but it was not enough for the Jacksonville Armada to overtake the NASL Spring Season champion Indy Eleven in a 5-2 loss at Michael A. Carroll Stadium.

Keita, who was the Armada’s leading scorer in 2015, struck gold in the 33^rd minute when he was able to snatch the ball from Indy’s Don Smart and smash it into the back of the net from just outside the box with his left foot.

It was his first goal since his game-winner in Jacksonville’s thrilling 2-1 extra time victory over the Charleston Battery in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third round on June 1.

It looked like the Guinean striker would have another tally to his total in the 80^th minute when defender Matt Bahner curled in a picture-perfect cross just in front of the goal for a streaking Keita, but the Eleven’s Colin Falvey got a foot on it first to put it past Indy goalkeeper Jon Busch for an own goal.

"I thought we did some good things with the ball," said Tony Meola, Armada FC head coach. "Give our guys credit, we battled until the end and had opportunities."

Indy’s leading goal scorer Éamon Zayed led his squad with a hat-trick effort, netting goals in the 16^th, 58^th and 65^th minutes. Forward John Braun assisted on Zayed’s second goal and scored one of his own in the 13^th. Nemanja Vukovic had the Eleven’s other goal in the 36^th minute.

"We went to a 3-5-2 so we could get more on the attack, but in the first half, we couldn't figure it out down the left side of the field and they just beat us," Meola said. "We made some strides with the ball, but (we had) two turnovers and we're down two-nil again. With turnovers against a team like this, you can't survive."

The Armada will return home Saturday for a 7 p.m. fixture against the Carolina RailHawks. The Armada FC will honor the great work of Northeast Florida charitable organizations with Nonprofit Night at Community First Park. For tickets, starting at $11, call 1.844.2.ARMADA or visit armadafc.com/tickets.

MATCH REPORT:

Starting XI:

JAX (3-5-2): Lewis, Ruthven, Navarro, Oiumette, Johnson (Steinberger 45’), Jerome, Bahner, Scaglia (Barrow 58’), Maripuu, Andersson (Eloundou 65’), Keita

IND (4-4-2): Busch, Vukovic, Janicki, Falvey, Palmer (Franco 62’), Mares, Paterson, Ring (Torrado 63’), Smart, Zayed, Braun (Youla 69’)

Scoring Summary:

IND: Braun (Mares) 13’
IND: Zayed (Smart) 16’
JAX: Keita 33’
IND: Vukovic 36’
IND: Zayed (Braun) 58’
IND: Zayed (Braun) 65’
IND: Own goal 80’

Discipline: 

JAX: Scaglia (caution) 40’
IND: Janicki (ejection) 89’
JAX: Keita (ejection) 89’

Attendance: 8,017