PREVIEW | Armada Ready For Bout with South Florida Rival Miami FC

Armada FC Communications | Oct. 18, 2016

The Jacksonville Armada FC will cap off a busy home stretch with their third match in seven days on Wednesday when they host Sunshine State rivals the Miami FC at Community First Park at 7 p.m. ET. The club has partnered with the Jacksonville Humane Society as Nonprofit of the Match to host the first “Dogtoberfest” at Community First Park where supporters will be encourage to bring their pooches to the park.

The Armada FC will look to bounce back after a disappointing 2-4 loss to the league top New York Cosmos on Saturday evening. Jacksonville fought their way back into a stunning comeback with goals from Alhassane Keita in the 66th minute and Zach Steinberger in the 79th.

However, the Armada watched their lead evaporate via two free kicks by Cosmos midfielder Juan Arango. A stoppage-time goal by New York's Jairo Arrieta sealed the deal in first loss at Community First Park since July 23.

The loss saw a 293-minute shutout streak come to an end, as well as a five-game unbeaten run. Jacksonville’s composure was tested throughout the match, with a club high seven yellow cards being handed out to the Boys in Blue. Alhassane Keita picked a pair of yellows, which saw him sent off for his second of the night.

The double booking leaves Keita with a one match suspension and unavailable for the match against Miami FC Wednesday.

The Miami FC will head into their second straight Coastal Cup matchup following a 2-2 draw with the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium. Miami was able to get on the board early with a pair of goals by forwards Jaime Chavez and Kwadwo Poku. Tampa Bay would counter with two unanswered goals to close off the match in a tie.

The draw also allowed the Rowdies to claim the 2016 Coastal Cup, for the first time since 2013.

Wednesday's match marks the third time the two sides meet, and the series is tied at one a piece, each taking a win in their respective cities. With the Coastal Cup behind them, Wednesday’s match is sure to be a dog fight as an Armada victory could put a serious dent in Miami’s postseason hopes.

Below is a breakdown of the teams and the matchup.

WHEN & WHERE
Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. ET | Community First Park
Buy Tickets | Weather

THE TEAMS
Jacksonville Armada FC – Mark Lowry, 1st season
MIami FC – Alessandro Nesta, 1st season

THE COACHES
Jacksonville Armada FC (3W-8D-8L, 17 pts., 12th NASL Fall, 4W-12D-13L, 24 pts., 11th NASL Combined)
Miami FC (8W-6D-5L, 30 pts., 4rd NASL Fall, 9W-10D-10L, 37 pts., 8th NASL Combined)

SERIES HISTORY
Series tied 1-1-0

LAST RESULT
Miami FC 1, Armada FC 0 - 7/16/16 in Miami, Fla. | Recap

CLUB QUICK LINKS
Armada FC: News | Roster | Schedule
Miami FC: News | Roster | Schedule

WATCH
- CBS Sports Network nationally – Cole Pepper – PXP, Andy Kidd – Color 

LISTEN
- Live on Project 106.9-FM | Stuart Webber – PXP, and Ryan Patridge  – Color 
- Also streamed live on iHeart app or project1069.iheart.com

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

POTENT NOTABLES

- Under Mark Lowry, the Armada have gone 2W-6D-3L in 11 games. Until last Saturday’s defeat to New York, the Armada was on a five-game unbeaten streak, and a club first three-match shutout streak. Lowry recorded the first two away victories in club history since taking over on Aug. 7. He has yet to win a home fixture at Community First Park.

- The Armada has amassed six yellow cards and one red card to Miami’s four yellows in just two meeting between the clubs.

- Irishman Richie Ryan returns to Jacksonville for the first time since being traded to Miami for cash considerations on May 13. Ryan captained the Armada through five games in the 2016 Spring Season.

- Jacksonville are 2W - 4D - 7L against Florida opponents all time in NASL competition.

BY THE NUMBERS

7 – Club high number of yellow cards for Armada FC on Saturday.

120 – The number of clearances for defender Tyler Ruthven, currently fourth in the NASL.

INJURY WATCH

- Pekka Lagerblom will miss Wednesday’s match following a collision during the Cosmos game in which he was subbed out just before halftime. The 33-year-old midfielder has made seven starts since returning with an Achilles injury in the preseason.

COASTAL CUP COMPLETE

Miami’s 1-1 draw with Tampa Bay on Saturday sealed off Coastal Cup completion for 2016 with the Rowdies taking their fifth trophy and first since 2013. Even with two Armada victories in the remaining two Coastal Cup matches (vs. Miami, 10/19 and vs. Tampa Bay, 10/30) the total would leave Jacksonville just one point shy of the Rowdies 14 points.

Established in 2010, the club with the most combined points from derby matches at the end of the NASL Fall Season will be awarded the Coastal Cup.

CLUB CONNECTIONS

Miami FC goalkeeper Lionel Brown and Armada forward Jemal Johnson played together on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 2013 ... Miami FC de-fender Gabriel Farfan and Armada defender Anthony Wallace played togeth-er at IMG Academy and on the U.S. U-17 national team from 2004-05 ... Miami FC defender Brad Rusin also played with Farfan and Wallace at IMG Academy from 2004-05 ... Rusin, Armada goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo and Armada defender Bryan Burke were teammates on Orlando City SC (then USL) in 2014 ... Miami FC midfielders Dane Richards and Jonathan Borrajo and Armada defender Tyler Ruthven both played on MLS side New York Red Bulls in 2012 ... Miami FC forwards Jaime Chavez and Kwadwo Poku and Armada defender Beto Navarro teammates on former NASL side Atlanta Silverbacks in 2014 ... Miami FC forward Aaron Dennis and Ruthven were teammates on USL side Arizona United SC in 2015 ... Miami FC midfielder Blake Smith and Armada defend-er Karl Ouimette were teammates on Montreal Impact in 2013 ... Miami FC midfielder Richie Ryan was the Armada captain for the first five games of the 2016 NASL Spring Season… Miami goalkeeper Sebastian Evers was a member of the Armada during the entirety of 2015 and moved to Miami FC in February 2016… Evers starting one game for Armada in May 28 in a 1-1 draw with Indy Eleven in Jacksonville, before going down with a groin injury in the 57th minute.

DOGTOBERFEST

Fans are invited to bring their pooches to the park and enjoy $1 beers on, as always, “Wet Your Whistle Wednesday” to help cheer on the Armada to a victory over Miami. Owners and their dogs will be required to enter through Gate 2, sign a waiver and will have access to a designated doggie bathroom area in the berm portion of left field. Water stations will be located throughout the main concourse. If you need assistance finding a bowl, please visit Fan Services.

Click the links here for a full list of Dogtoberfest Rules and the waiver which will be available at gate two, but can also be printed out in advance, filled in and handed in at the entrance.

The Jacksonville Humane soceity will also have a pet adoption center stationed on the berm.

LOOKING AHEAD

Up next, the Armada heads into its final road fixture of the 2016 season when the club faces FC Edmonton in ice cold Alberta on Sunday Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. ET.