PREVIEW | Armada FC Return To Jacksonville For Rematch Of Last Weekend's Tilt Against The Scorpions

After a tough 1-0 loss at the San Antonio Scorpions last Saturday, the Jacksonville Armada FC will return to Community First Park for Military Appreciation Night at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday in a rematch with the Scorpions.

The Armada FC, who are unbeaten in four straight at home, took a two-game winning streak into their North American Soccer League showdown with the Scorpions last week, and for most of the match, it looked like that streak would be extended. Jacksonville controlled momentum for most of the match and ended up with a 55-45 percent possession advantage, but in the 64th minute, San Antonio broke through on a counterattack led by Scorpions forward Billy Forbes.

Forbes, who had subbed into the contest just five minutes earlier, streaked down the side and took a Tyler Gibson pass on his way to getting an angle on Armada FC goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo and bouncing the ball into the goal. Despite the Armada FC's best efforts to swarm San Antonio 'keeper Daniel Fernandes, he was able to stop everything blasted his way to preserve the lead.

The Armada FC and the Scorpions previously squared off in Jacksonville on May 2 in a match that looked destined for a draw, but some late-match heroics by Akeil Barrett, Alhassane Keita, and Miguel Gallardo lifted Jacksonville to a 2-1 win. After a goal in the fourth minute by Pascal Millien off a Marcos Flores assist, San Antonio forward Omar Cummings hit the equalizer in the eighth minute with an eye-popping scissor kick.

Although there were a few near goals for each team after that, the climax came in the third minute of second half stoppage time when Barrett, who subbed on in the 83rd minute, started a breakaway at midfield, juked San Antonio's Joseph Nane and fed a picture-perfect through ball to Keita, who rolled it past Scorpions goalkeeper Daryl Sattler to take a 2-1 lead. Gallardo preserved the lead with a couple of key stops in the 95th minute.

With the Armada still just four points away from a potential spot in The Championship, their showdown at home against the Scorpions is arguably a must-win after coming away with no points in San Antonio last weekend. And in addition to extending its unbeaten streak at home, Jacksonville will also try to make it three straight shutouts at home.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Scorpions have not won on the road in four straight contests and are conceding an average of three goals per match away from San Antonio. Even so, with the Scorpions at 20 points in the Combined Standings, just two wins would put them in contention for postseason play.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jacksonville: Although he doesn't record any notable stats like goals or assists very often, midfielder Lucas Scaglia has been an unsung hero at helping hold the midfield and keeping the ball moving forward. Scaglia stifled the San Antonio attack for much of the game, has logged 1,530 minutes this season, second most on the team.

San Antonio: The four-headed monster of Omar Cummings, Billy Forbes, Marvin Chavez, and Cesar Elizondo have combined for 16 of San Antonio's 26 goals. Cummings leads the team and NASL with 10 goals, while Forbes also has a team-leading six assists to go along with his four goals. To complement the attack, defender Stephen DeRoux and goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes led the Scorpions to their shutout performance against the Armada FC last Saturday and were named to the NASL Team of the Week on Wednesday.

NOTABLES

• Anchored by three clean sheets at home, the Armada FC are conceding less than a goal per game at Community First Park during the Fall Season. San Antonio is averaging 1.25 goals per game on the road but is also allowing an average of three goals per game away from home.
   
• Hampered by injuries and red cards, it has been a challenge for the Armada FC to trot out the same starting 11 every match. In fact, Jacksonville has not had the same starting lineup in consecutive matches since May 30 against the Carolina RailHawks and June 7 against Ottawa Fury FC. Out of a 4-3-3 formation, the lineup was Miguel Gallardo (GK), Lucas Rodriguez (LB),  Lucas Trejo (LCB), Fabricio Ortiz (RCB), Matt Bahner (RB), Lucas Scaglia (LM), Bochy Hoyos (CM), Jaime Castrillon (RM), Jemal Johnson (LF), Marcos Flores (CF) and Pascal Millien (RF).
   
• If the Fall Season table only included home matches, the Armada FC would be tied for second with the New York Cosmos with 10 points and behind Fall Season leader Ottawa Fury FC, which has recorded 13 points at home.