JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Armada FC is playing one final Fall Season match at Hodges Stadium and it might be the most critical match yet.
The Armada FC is going up against the New York Cosmos on Sunday and a win by the visitors would secure their seat in the final position to the NASL postseason tournament, The Championship. A loss or a draw though, would keep Jacksonville’s hopes of securing that seat alive going into their last match on the road.
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Both teams had midweek clashes on Wednesday. Jacksonville drew at home against FC Edmonton after one goal from each side. Jack Blake gave the Armada FC the first goal of the match after receiving the ball from J.C. Banks in the 39th minute. Edmonton found their chance to equalize in the second half however and tied up the score.
Puerto Rico FC hosted the Cosmos on Wednesday. New York added three points after a 4-1 victory. Ayoze had the first goal with a free kick in the 35th minute. Eugene Starikov doubled New York’s lead six minutes later. Bledic Bardic notched his goal in the 73rd minute to make it 3-0. Ayoze completed a brace a few minutes later by converting a penalty kick. Puerto Rico finally got one back in the 89th minute, but it was not enough.
The Armada FC and the Cosmos last met on Sept. 17 in New York. Ciarán Kilduff scored a brace in the first half to put Jacksonville ahead 2-0. Then Blake scored his eighth goal of the year from the penalty spot in the second half to add one more to the lead. New York’s Javi Marquez was first to chip away at the deficit though. He put the Cosmos on the board in the 79th minute. Ten minutes later, Starikov headed in a goal. Then Juan Guerra put away the final goal of the match to tie it up at 3-3 in a tough draw for Jacksonville.