JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An 80th minute solo goal from midfielder J.C. Banks condemned FC Edmonton to a season-opening loss to Jacksonville Armada FC in the club’s first match of the 2017 North American Soccer League (NASL) season.
The loss comes in the first of a home-and-home between the two sides to open the NASL Spring Season, rounding out next weekend with the Eddies’ Home Opener at Clarke Stadium on Saturday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m.
“We needed to be a lot better in possession and gave away the ball too easily,” FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller said. “I thought we defended well for the most part, but it’s disappointing to concede late in the fashion that we did.”
The Eddies rolled out a strong 4-1-4-1 lineup with a blend of new and returning players from 2016. Goalkeeper Chris Konopka started between the pipes for FC Edmonton in front of last season’s league-best defence that included NASL Young Player of the Year Papé Diakité and Albert Watson at centre-back. Canadian internationals Ben Fisk, Adam Straith and captain Nik Ledgerwood lined up in the midfield with Ameobi up front at striker.
After an early feel-out process between the two sides, Jacksonville had the first good scoring chance of the match in the eighth minute when Jack Blake went wide of Konopka and the far-left post. Three minutes later, Jacksonville earned the first caution of the match when Jonathan Glenn put a high foot up on Watson.
Edmonton’s first chance came from a good link-up play in the 13th minute between forward Jake Keegan and Netan Sansara. Keegan slipped a ball through to Sansara on the right before the cross fell to Ameobi at point-blank range, but Armada keeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell stopped the shot in close.
The Armada held the majority of possession in the first half but the Eddies were up to the task in defence, eventually carrying the 0-0 scoreline into the break.
Jacksonville started the second half keeping most of the possession. Konopka was forced into a good save in the 70th minute when midfielder Zach Steinberger’s layoff to Jonathan Glenn was stomped by the keeper’s right hand.
Ten minutes later, the Armada had their breakthrough. Picking up the ball in the midfield, J.C. Blake beat the FC Edmonton defense and fired low to the bottom corner past Konopka for the 1-0 lead. The Eddies played direct and pressed hard for the equalizer, but couldn’t find their goal as the match finished 1-0 in favour of the Armada.
The two teams reconvene next weekend, Saturday, April 8, when FC Edmonton begins its home campaign at Clarke Stadium keen to rectify Sunday’s loss.
“You have to come out with that attitude,” Miller added. “We start back at training this week and regroup before our Home Opener. They’re good professionals and I’m looking for a positive reaction from the players.”
The countdown is on to FC Edmonton’s Home Opener at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 8 at Clarke Stadium and single tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at tickets.fcedmonton.com!
Scoring Summary
FC Edmonton: None
Jacksonville Armada FC: J.C. Banks (80′)
Cautions
FC Edmonton: None
Jacksonville Armada FC: Glenn (13′), Maripuu (63′), Blake (84′)
FC Edmonton
Konopka; Sansara, Watson, Diakité, Nicklaw; Straith (di Biase 75′), Ledgerwood, Fisk (Nyassi 75′), Shiels (Khattab 82′), Keegan; Ameobi.
Jacksonville Armada FC
Patterson-Sewell, Ryden, Pitchkolan, Beckie, Jerome, Steinberger, Maripuu, George, Blake, Banks (Johnson 82′), Glenn (Gebhard 72′)