Armada FC Earn Win Over Strikers In Inaugural Match At Community First Park

When Jacksonville Armada FC co-head coaches Jose Luis Villarreal and Guillermo Hoyos sat down for their press conference, both quickly used the same word to describe Saturday night’s match against the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers: “intenso.”

No translation was needed — especially for those who watched the game.

In their debut at Community First Park, the Armada FC rode Shawn Nicklaw’s 45th minute goal to a hard-fought 1-0 win over their in-state rivals, an important test against a team that reached the NASL Championship last season.

“We obviously played against a very good team. You can’t forget they were in the finals against San Antonio,” Villarreal said. “The first half was two teams with the same intentions. Both teams have the same strengths.”

Those strengths were evident early.

Chilly, wet weather wasn’t enough to cool off the squads’ attacking mindsets.

The Armada FC, with only one change from their match against the Union (Marcos Flores in place of the injured Alhassane Keita), were anxious to get forward with fullbacks Nicklaw and Lucas Trejo pushing high up the field.

But too often, Armada FC attacks ended in turnovers that led to scoring opportunities for the wrong team.

The Strikers were quick to seize on errant passes and launch counterattacks, largely via forward Aly Alberto Hassan and midfielder Evans Frimpong. The latter had two excellent chances go awry — one shot stopped by Armada FC keeper Miguel Gallardo just in front of goal and another that he sent wide of the post from further out. In all, Frimpong put just one of his game-high six shots on target and another opportunity was spoiled when defender Frankie Sanfilippo’s open header missed high.

Midway through the half, the Armada FC began to turn the tide by tidying up their midfield play and limiting giveaways.

“In the first 30 minutes, the team was playing a little long,” Villarreal said. “Shortening the distance of the passes, and shortening the game, is what made the difference.”

One particularly bright sequence ended with defender Matt Bahner heading just wide in the 33rd minute, and Man of the Match Pascal Millien was a constant threat down the right — even setting up strike partner Jemal Johnson with a perfect cross from the opposite side of the field.

The Armada FC attack reached a fever pitch in the final two minutes of the half, when an apparent miscommunication among the Strikers defense led to a cross dropping for Millien at the far post. He slid a pass across the face of the goal that just begged to be buried in the net, but the crowd’s swell of anticipation was let down when the ensuing shot was deflected over the top.

But it did set up a corner, and that’s when the match changed.

After a short corner, Trejo found himself with space outside the box on the left side. He sent in a right-footed cross that his fullback partner, Nicklaw, met while running to the back post. Nicklaw brought the ball down and finished from a tight angle, marking the first-ever goal at Community First Park.

“It was a very special moment for me,” Nicklaw said. “And you could tell, not only for me but the rest of my teammates came and celebrated as a team. It was a big, special moment for everybody.”

Having Nicklaw and Trejo combine for a goal signified the type of attacking soccer the Armada hope to produce this season, and the second half showed the way they want to be able to control a match.

Mass substitutions slowed the game a bit — including Gallardo, who had six saves and left the field with an injury — but more importantly, the Armada FC were able to establish more possession.

“What we did in the second half is much more of what we’re looking for,” Villarreal said.

Millien added: “Both teams played a similar style, so it’s difficult. We were just trying to find a way to slow it down. And as long as we did what we need to do, and the coaches mentioned a couple of things to us, we just started calming down a little bit, relaxing, and playing.”

Still, each club had a chance to score in the final seconds. First, Armada FC substitute and Jacksonville native Tommy Krizanovic had a shot deflected off the crossbar, and Strikers trialist Bryan Perea’s bid for a stoppage-time equalizer went over the top from close range.

Once the emotions from a frantic finish cleared, the bigger picture snapped back into view. It was a great home win against a strong opponent, but the real test awaits in little more than a month against FC Edmonton.

“We still have a lot of work to get done,” Millien said. “Our main focus is April 4. We just want to keep things going.”

The Armada FC will be back in action March 8, hosting the Charleston Battery at 4 p.m.