News

PLAYOFF PREVIEW – Miami FC 2 vs. Armada FC

Jacksonville continues playoff run in Sunshine Conference Championship Saturday
Jul 13, 2018

The Jacksonville Armada FC travels south for the NPSL Sunshine Conference Finals against Miami FC 2 Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Fla., and fans in Jacksonville can watch the match on WJXT Channel 4 presented by Listed.com.

 

WHEN & WHERE

Saturday, July 14 at 7 p.m. ET | Bobcat Field at St. Thomas University (Miami Gardens, Fla.)

 

WATCH

Broadcast – WJXT Channel 4 in Jacksonville

Live Stream – JacksonvilleArmada.com/Watch

 

LIVE UPDATES

Twitter.com/JaxArmadaFC  – #MIAvJAX

 

TICKETS

$15 – ONLINE

  

THE TEAMS

Miami FC 2 (8W-1L-3D, 27 pts., 1st NPSL Sunshine Conference)

Jacksonville Armada FC (7W-2L-3D, 24 pts., 2nd NPSL Sunshine Conference)

 

CLUB QUICK LINKS

The Miami FC: News | Roster | Schedule

 

Jacksonville Armada FC: News | Roster | Schedule

 

SERIES HISTORY

Miami leads, 6W-1D-3L

 

LAST ARMADA RESULT

Armada FC 4, Miami United FC 1 RECAP

 

SEMIFINALS IN REWIND

The Jacksonville Armada FC hosted its first-ever playoff match in Jacksonville Saturday against Miami United FC in the NPSL Sunshine Conference Semifinals. The Armada FC earned a 4-1 victory with a brace by Ciarán Kilduff, a goal by J.C. Banks, and an own-goal by Miami off of a shot by Banks. The win also marked the first over Miami United this season, after two draws in the regular season and a defeat that knocked the Armada FC out of the U.S. Open Cup.

The Semifinals followed a 7W-2L-3D season for the Armada FC in the NPSL. The club earned the No. 2 seed with 24 points total and the right to host Miami United in the first round of playoffs.

 

MIAMI FC’S RISE TO THE TOP

Miami FC 2 clinched the No. 1 seed in the Sunshine Conference after an 8W-1L-3D season. With the most points in the conference (27), Miami earned a first-round bye in the Conference Playoffs and the right to host the Final.

Miami’s last match was July 7 at home against Boca Raton FC. The match ended 5-0 in favor of the home team. Dario Suarez earned a brace in the first half, and Jaime Chavez and Rhett Bernstein tallied goals within the first 45 minutes as well. Ariel Martinez notched the last goal of the night in the 81st.

 

A SPIRITED RIVALRY

Jacksonville and the Miami FC share an intense past, as this is the third year the Florida foes have played against each other. The teams both played in the NASL in 2016 and 2017. Jacksonville lost every match to Miami in 2017, yet earned a bit of redemption when it handed Miami its sole loss of the season in the teams’ last meeting. The Armada FC shut out Miami on June 6 in Jacksonville with just one goal by Derek Gebhard in the 11th minute.

Although Miami FC is in 1st place after the regular season in the Conference, Saturday’s match will determine the Conference Champion. Each side has something to prove and share the determination to claim the Conference title. The match is sure to bring out the best competition yet between the teams.

  

WHAT'S AHEAD IN THE POSTSEASON?

The winner of Saturday’s match at St. Thomas University will claim the title of Sunshine Conference Champion and move on to the NPSL South Region playoffs. The Semifinals will be against the Champion of the Southeast Conference on Wednesday, July 18. Another match Saturday between the Atlanta Silverbacks and Chattanooga FC will determine the Southeast Conference Champion.

The winners of the South Region Semifinals will move on to the South Region Finals on July 21. More information about the playoffs can be found on NPSL.com.