The club looks on to the first place showdown against Miami FC Saturday after a 1-0 defeat.

Chris Hall, ArmadaFC.com

The Jacksonville Armada FC was defeated 1-0 Wednesday by the Charleston Battery at Southern Oaks Stadium. Although ending the team’s U.S. Open Cup run in the Third Round, the Armada FC now looks to the weekend for a first place showdown.

Charleston dominated the first few minutes of the match with a flurry of attacks, but Armada FC goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell remained strong in net, keeping the game scoreless. The Battery appeared to break through in the 10th minute with a goal, but it was quickly waived offsides.

The Armada FC then responded with attacks of its own. Derek Gebhard’s header in the 23rd minute went just wide. A minute later, Midfielder Zach Steinberger, searching for his fifth goal in three games, drove the ball high over Charleston keeper Odisnel Cooper and out of play.

A short while later, Charleston broke the deadlock courtesy of a rare mistake from Armada FC defender Drew Beckie. An attempt to clear the ball over the Jacksonville net accidentally went in during the 25th minute.

Coach Lowry put Charles Eloundou in to start the second half as well as Jonathan Glenn and Jemal Johnson later in the half to energize the Armada FC.

“It was about bringing some speed on, but it was also about Saturday,” said Lowry looking to this weekend’s matchup.

The Armada FC fought hard in the final 45 minutes, but could not find the magic it had been accustomed to the previous few games.

“It just wasn’t our night,” a disappointed Lowry stated.

The club will look to bounce back on short rest for a pivotal matchup this Saturday against the league-leading Miami FC. However, Lowry is not worried about having momentum heading back into league play.

“That’ll be easy. I think the guys are tremendously focused on Saturday, to be honest,” he said. “I don’t think that’s going to be any problem getting them to bounce back from this.”

The importance of Saturday’s match was not lost on Lowry, as he stressed the stakes for Jacksonville.

“It’s a massive game,” he said. “It’s number one versus number two in the league, and that’s a game we want to do well in.”

The Armada FC will close out its home stand Saturday against Miami FC in a battle for first place in the NASL standings. Tickets for the matchup can be purchased on ArmadaFC.com/tickets or by calling 844-2-ARMADA.

MATCH REPORT

STARTING XI:

JAX (4-2-3-1): Patterson-Sewell, Ryden, Pitchkolan (Glenn 67’), Jerome, Beckie, Maripuu (Johnson 67’), Blake, Rebllon, Steinberger, Banks (Eloundou 45’), Gebhard

CHS (4-4-1-1): Cooper, Marini, Thomas, Lasso, Woodbine, Higashi, Hackshaw, Anunga, Chang (Rittmeyer 90’), Guerra (Marini 36’), Williams

SCORING SUMMARY:

JAX: Beckie 25’ (OG)

DISCIPLINE:

CHS: Lasso (caution) 56’

CHS: Anunga (caution) 58’

JAX: Rebellon (caution) 90’+3’

CHS: Hackshaw (caution) 90’+4’