The Armada FC took a 3-0 victory over the San Francisco Deltas Friday

FINAL STATS | HIGHLIGHTS

The Jacksonville Armada FC came away with an impressive 3-0 victory and three crucial points in San Francisco Friday night.

“It obviously feels good to get the victory,” said Armada FC head coach Mark Lowry. “San Francisco is a top team. They’re high up in the league for a reason.”

The San Francisco Deltas and Armada FC matched up evenly, but it was Jacksonville that put the chances away with a Herculean effort from midfielder Zach Steinberger. He tallied a total of two goals and one assist.

“Zach Steinberger is a top player,” said Lowry. “I’ve said it all along. I think he’s one of the top players in the league and I’ll say it every day. Now you are finally starting to see what he can do.”

After 27 minutes of little action in the first half, the Armada FC took the lead with the first goal by Zach Steinberger. Drew Beckie sent him a cross from the right that he headed in past the Delta’s goalkeeper, Romuald Peiser.

Jacksonville seemed to find a rhythm soon after and dominated possession.

“For the first 15 minutes they were putting us under a lot of pressure and we were lucky to get through that,” said Lowry.

A second header goal from Steinberger, following a beautiful cross from Jemal Johnson, came in the 45th minute. Johnson sent the cross over to Steinberger from the left side who headed in the second goal for the Armada just before halftime.

Steinberger’s brace puts him in a tie for the top goal scorer in the NASL.

Forward Derek Gebhard netted the third for the Armada FC just one minute after subbing in for Jonathan Glenn in the 72nd minute. Steinberger had the assist with a through ball. This goal marked Gebhard’s first for the Armada FC since joining the team in 2015.

“I thought we played well,” said Lowry. “We created a lot of chances and we took them at the right times. That made a difference.”

Jacksonville’s defense was also notable, as it held strong when the Deltas controlled most of the possession in the second half.

Goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell recorded his fourth clean sheet of the season and had three crucial saves.

The Jacksonville Armada FC climbs toward the top of the table and is now sitting one point out of first place. The team will return home now for a crucial rematch against North Carolina FC on Sunday, May 28 at Hodges Stadium.

MATCH REPORT

Starting XI:

SFD (4-4-2): Peiser, Attakora, Ouimette (Stephens 69’), Teijsse (Tissot 63’), Reiner, Portilla, Gibson (Jackson 45’), Bekker, Dyego, Sandoval

JAX (4-2-3-1): Patterson-Sewell, Beckie, Pitchkolan, Jérôme, Ryden, Kevan, Maripuu (Blake 59’), J.C., Steinberger, Johnson (Rebellón 86’), Glenn (Gebhard 72’)

Scoring Summary:

JAX: Steinberger 28’

JAX: Steinberger 45’

JAX: Gebhard 73’

Discipline:

JAX: George (caution) 32’

Attendance:

2,201