Armada FC Public Relations | June 11, 2015

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Armada FC will try to wrap up the 2015 NASL Spring Season on a high note this weekend when they travel to Hempstead, N.Y., to take on legendary striker Raúl and the New York Cosmos at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday.

Although they were eliminated from Spring Season championship contention after a loss to the Carolina RailHawks on May 30, the Armada FC can still put themselves in a solid position to start the Fall Season and play the role of spoiler. Jacksonville is coming off a scoreless draw with Ottawa Fury FC last Sunday at home and is looking for its first road win of the season.

New York currently sits on top of the NASL Spring Season table with 19 points with a three-point lead and a six goal advantage in differential over the second-place Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Cosmos have not yet suffered a loss this season and have recorded a win in all four of their home fixtures in the spring. Saturday will be the club’s first NASL action since a 1-1 draw on the road with Minnesota United FC on May 30.

Below is a breakdown of each team and the match.

WHEN & WHERE

Saturday, June 13 at 7:15 p.m. ET | Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University

Buy Tickets | Weather



THE TEAMS

Jacksonville Armada FC (3W-2D-4L), 5th in NASL Spring Season Table (11 pts.)

New York Cosmos (5W-4D-0L), 1st in NASL Spring Season Table (19 pts.)

CLUB QUICK LINKS

Armada FC: News | Roster | Schedule | Season Stats

Cosmos: News | Roster | Schedule | Season Stats

WATCH

- CW17 in Jacksonville | Cole Pepper - PXP, Bob Veal - Color and Krissty Andaur - Sideline



LISTEN

- Sports Radio 930-AM in Jacksonville | Stuart Webber - PXP and Andy Kidd - Color

- Also streamed live on sportsradiojax.iheart.com

READ

- Live Twitter updates on @ArmadaFCgameday - #NYCvJAX

- Live stats on ArmadaFC.com

WHAT'S AT STAKE

For the Armada FC, it would be a major statement for the expansion side to go up to New York and give the Cosmos their only blemish of the spring and put their Spring Season title hopes in doubt. And another three points would help Jacksonville finish with a respectable 14 points, giving the club a solid springboard into its fall campaign.

The Cosmos have a lot to lose, but the odds are in their favor. With a win or draw, they would guarantee themselves the outright NASL Spring Season championship and a coveted spot in the NASL playoffs. Even if the Cosmos lost to the Armada, the Rowdies would have to defeat the Atlanta Silverbacks and make up seven goals in the goal differential column to snatch the spring title away from New York.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jacksonville: Forward Pascal Millien was named to the NASL Team of the Week on Wednesday after leading the Armada FC’s attack in their scoreless draw with Ottawa Fury FC last Sunday. The 29-year-old Haitian is tied for second on the team with two goals scored in 670 minutes of action. Attacking midfielder Marcos Flores, who has been filling the role of center forward for the injured Alhassane Keita, was named the Farah & Farah Man of the Match last Sunday after creating numerous scoring opportunities for the Armada FC and serving as the offensive maestro.

New York: Raúl, who has become the face of the team, leads the Cosmos with four goals scored and was recently named the NASL Player of the Month for May. The striker has six La Liga titles, four Spanish Super Cups, three UEFA Champions League titles and is Real Madrid’s all-time leading goal scorer with 323 goals (10 ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo). Midfielder Leo Fernandes, on loan from the Philadelphia Union, is the team’s second-highest scorer, with three goals and two assists. Goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer leads the NASL with a 0.87 GAA and is second with 23 saves in nine starts. He has earned five clean sheets in NASL play this season.

NOTABLES

Despite snapping a three-match losing streak last Sunday with their scoreless draw, the Armada FC have had a tough time finding the back of the net. Jacksonville’s scoreless streak is now at 277 minutes.

Armada FC forward Jemal Johnson will make his return to New York after spending spring and fall 2014 with the Cosmos. Limited by a nagging knee injury, the Paterson, N.J., native scored one goal and notched two assists in 20 appearances with New York. With three goals for the Armada this season, Johnson has scored more in one season that his entire NASL career. He had a combined two goals in 32 appearances with the Cosmos and Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

If Jacksonville comes out on top Saturday, it would be the first club to defeat New York at home since Aug. 2, 2014, when the Carolina RailHawks bested the Cosmos, 1-0.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Armada FC will kick off the 2015 NASL Fall Season with a trip to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to take on Fury FC at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 5. Jacksonville will make its Fall Season debut at home on Saturday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. against the Cosmos at Community First Park.