JACKSONVILLE ARMADA FC DOMINATE NEW ORLEANS JESTERS IN 5-0 WIN

Photo Credit - Lexi Ray Photography

JACKSONVILLE, FL - Last night, the Jacksonville Armada U-23 hosted the New Orleans Jesters in an eagerly anticipated clash, with the Jesters making the arduous journey east across I-10. This encounter marked the second meeting between the two clubs in the 2023 NPSL Gulf Coast Conference season, with the Jesters having secured a 2-1 victory in their previous encounter.

From the opening whistle, Jacksonville showcased their attacking prowess, relentlessly pressuring the New Orleans backline. The Armada wasted no time in asserting their dominance, with Toby McCallum unleashing a remarkable freekick from 35 yards out in the 13th minute, finding the back of the net and propelling the Armada to a 1-0 lead. Just 90 seconds later, a defensive error by the Jesters presented an opportunity for Saulo Da Silva, who clinically converted the chance, notching his third goal in two games and extending Jacksonville's advantage to 2-0.

As the first half drew to a close, Eduardo Coimbra capitalized on a failed clearance by New Orleans and confidently buried the ball into the back of the net in the 45th minute, securing his first goal of the evening and widening the gap to 3-0. However, just before the halftime whistle, New Orleans midfielder Guy Baskerville received a second yellow card and was subsequently shown the red, reducing the Jesters to ten men for the remainder of the match.

Entering the second half, the Armada maintained their relentless pursuit of goals. In the 68th minute, Eduardo Coimbra found the back of the net once again, slotting away a rebounded shot and tallying his sixth goal of the season, further solidifying Jacksonville's dominance with a 4-0 lead. The Armada's final goal of the night came in the 85th minute from a well-executed corner kick. Ayrton Redmore rose above the Jester defense, directing a powerful header into the net, securing the fifth and final goal for Jacksonville. After two minutes of injury time, the match concluded with an emphatic final score of Jacksonville Armada U-23 5, New Orleans Jesters 0.

Head Coach Tommy Krizanovic expressed his satisfaction with the squad's clean sheet as they look ahead to the playoffs, stating, “Kknowing we are going into playoffs, the momentum has to shift. Not only are we focused on scoring goals, but obviously keeping the ball out of the net.”

With this remarkable victory, the Armada have clinched a home playoff match, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 12th, against a yet-to-be-determined opponent at a yet-to-be-determined venue. For the latest updates on news, upcoming playoff matches, tickets, and more, please visit JacksonvilleArmada.com and follow us on our social media platforms @JaxArmadaFC.