RECAP: Armada Earns Clean Sheet in 0-0 Draw with FC Edmonton

Armada FC Communications | Sept. 28, 2016

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.  -  Two teams arrived at Community First Park Wednesday evening looking to end six game winless streaks. However, after 90 minutes both walked away with a point.

The Armada (2W-7D-7L Fall, 3W-11D-12L Combined) created a flurry of chances and dominated possession heavily with a 61.9% edge. A defensively sound FC Edmonton (7W-5D-3L Fall, 12W-7D-6L Combined) proved to be up to the test as the night ended in stalemate.

“Everyone is getting more familiar with the system and the way that we want to play,” said interim head coach Mark Lowry. “There were a lot of cases tonight where we had some excellent passes and our guys were just a yard or two away from it. I think with a little more time together those chances will get converted into goals. I truly believe that”

Early on, Armada’s leading scorer Charles Eloundou piled on the pressure with several early chances, including in the 8th minute when he stripped the ball and fed Alhassane Keita for a 20 yard strike that Edmonton goalkeeper Matt VanOekel made easy work of. The combinations were the first of several dangerous attacks in what appears to be a budding relationship between the Armada’s two African strikers.

The half settled down into a back and forth contest with both sides exchanging shots, tackles and corresponding Yellow cards. Lucas Scaglia earned his fourth yellow card of the season for a tackle from behind on Dustin Corea in the 23rd minute.

FC Edmonton proved their worth throughout the match remaining solid at the back with the likes of Albert Watson, Pape Diakite and former Armada defender Shawn Nicklaw shutting down and clearing anything that the Armada front line threatened with.

Armada forward Zach Steinberger looked to create havoc in the midfield evading defenders to pass the ball out wide to Bryan Burke who hurdled cross after cross into the Eddies box, but was unable to convert on multiple attempts.

In one of Armada’s best chances of the evening, Mechack Jérôme stepped into a free kick in the 56th minute and belted it at VanOekel forcing the goalkeeper into a desperate diving save.

Despite a flurry of opportunities themselves, Edmonton only managed one shot on target in the first hour of play to Armada’s five on goal. Neither found the back of the net.

The Armada return to action when they head north to face Minnesota United FC at NSC Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota at 8 p.m. in what will be the two clubs final meeting in North American Soccer League competition.

MATCH REPORT:

Starting XI:

JAX (4-2-3-1): Gallardo, Bahner, Ruthven, Jerome, Johnson (Lagerblom 68’), Burke, George, Scaglia, Eloundou , Steinberger, Keita (Gebhard 82’)

FCE (4-1-4-1): VanOekel, Diakite, Watson, Ledgerwood (Raudales 82’), Fisk (Galvao 71’), Corea, Fordyce, Ameobi, Nicklaw, Shome (Di Biase 73’), Eckersley

Scoring Summary:
JAX: N/A
FCE: N/A

Discipline:
JAX:  Scaglia (Caution 23')
FCE:  Ledgerwood (Caution 35')
FCE:  Ekersley (Caution 55')
FCE: Di Biase (Caution 90')