PREVIEW | Silverbacks vs. Armada FC

With Jacksonville Armada FC sitting at second place in the NASL Spring Season standings, and five points behind the first place New York Cosmos, a win would go a long way in helping Jacksonville close the gap with five matches left on its slate.The club will play its league match out of the state of Florida when it visits the Atlanta SIlverbacks. 

The Armada FC is tied for the league lead with FC Edmonton in total goals scored (nine) and goals per match average (1.8). The offense has been distributed evenly among the team, with four players – Marcos Flores, Bochy Hoyos, Jemal Johnson, and Alhassane Keita – recording two goals each. The same can be said about opportunities created with six players – Matt Bahner, Akeil Barrett, Flores, Hoyos, Lucas Scaglia, and Lucas Trejo – each notching an assist.

Despite the attack-heavy approach, the Armada FC (3W-0D-2L, 9 points) proved last Saturday in their 1-0 win over Indy Eleven they could also be stout on defense. After a head injury pulled Keita out of the match for nearly 13 minutes, Guillermo Hoyos rolled the dice and played with 10 men. The short-handed situation forced the Armada FC to play more defensive for much of the first half, but the gamble paid off when Keita returned, as his presence forced pressure on Indy Eleven defenders. Bahner was named the Farah & Farah Man of the Match after a standout defensive effort in addition to being a factor on offense.

The Silverbacks (1-4-1, 7) have been a steady club so far. Their only blemish was a 1-0 loss at Minnesota United last Saturday. Starting goalkeeper Steward Ceus, who hadn’t allowed a goal in 230 minutes before the Minnesota loss, has led Atlanta’s stingy defensive effort.

Despite being tied for last in the league with four goals scored, Atlanta has also only allowed just four goals through six matches. A win for the Silverbacks could mean a jump to as high as second place in the league table.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jacksonville: Hoyos and goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo were named to the NASL Team of the Week on Wednesday. Hoyos, who scored on a header in the 49th minute against Indy Eleven on a cross from Bahner, also won NASL Play of the Week, as voted on by fans. Hoyos is tied with Flores for the team individual points lead with five (two goals and one assist each). Gallardo notched his 38th career clean sheet against Indy and finished with seven saves, a few which were key in shutting down the Eleven’s late push.

Atlanta: Ceus, who is a two-time NASL Team of the Week selection this spring, is tied for fourth in the NASL with 14 saves. Shaka Bangura leads the Silverbacks on the attack with two goals and an assist.

NOTABLES

• The Silverbacks are the least potent offense and the toughest defense the Armada FC have faced. Atlanta has allowed the second least amount of goals (four) behind New York (three) and is tied with Ottawa for last with the least amount of goals scored (four).
   
• Three matches into the Spring Season, 18 of the 24 active players on the Armada FC roster have seen action. Players who have not yet seen the pitch are defenders Jordan Gafa and Ramak Safi, midfielder Nico Zaldana, backup goalkeepers David Sierra and Sebastian Evers and forward Tyler Williams.
   
• The Armada FC is 0-2 on the road in the spring, both of which were bus trips to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and St. Petersburg, Fla. The team is busing to Atlanta.