Keita’s Late Winner In Jacksonville Headlines Action-Packed Night
A stoppage-time winner from Guinea international Alhassane Keita helped Jacksonville Armada FC snatch three points from the defending champions, the San Antonio Scorpions, at Community First Park in Week 5 of the North American Soccer League (NASL) Spring Season on Saturday night.
About 1,000 miles north, at another stadium hosting its first NASL match, the first-place New York Cosmos kept their unbeaten record intact, defeating struggling Ottawa Fury FC at MCU Park in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn.
The night’s two other matches both ended in draws. The Carolina RailHawks, who finished the match with a man advantage, had to settle for a 1-1 draw against the visiting Tampa Bay Rowdies, while the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Atlanta Silverbacks ended the night tied, 0-0, and even on points in the standings with seven each.
Carolina Railhawks 1, Tampa Bay Rowdies 1
Carolina (1-3-1, 6) and Tampa Bay (2-2-1, 8) fought to a 1-1 draw at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. on Saturday night. Just minutes into the match, RailHawks forward Nacho Novo was on the receiving end of a pass from Tiyi Shipalane, and the former Rangers FC star fired a shot past Tampa Bay goalkeeper Matt Pickens, who started in place of the injured Kamil Contofalsky.
The Rowdies evened things up in the 19th minute when Martin Núñez one-timed a cross from Georgi Hristov past Hunter Gilstrap. Hristov was then shown a red card in the 77th minute for an incident involving RailHawks substitute Wells Thompson, who nearly scored the game-winner deep into stoppage time. The veteran midfielder’s shot from the top of the penalty area was pushed away brilliantly by Pickens, however, and both teams were forced to settle for a point.
New York Cosmos 1, Ottawa Fury FC 0
The first-place New York Cosmos (3-2-0, 11 points) took their show on the road on Saturday night, playing a home match against Ottawa Fury FC in Brooklyn for the first time. Jimmy Maurer notched his 17th career shutout and fourth of the season, while Lucky Mkosana scored his first goal of the season in the victory.
Leo Fernandes matched his two goals this season with an assist – his second of the season – on Mkosana’s goal. It was Ottawa’s (1-1-3, 4 points) second straight loss in the league and fourth straight overall when you include the two to FC Edmonton in the Amway Canadian Championship.
“He’s been practicing very well,” said Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese of Mkosana after the match. “I thought he had also a good game against Atlanta. Tonight he found a lot of spaces. He was strong and he was clinical. He also helped out defensively. He worked very hard and he had a good game.”
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 0, Atlanta Silverbacks 0
The Atlanta (1-4-0, 7) defense, which has allowed only three goals so far this season, was unbreached again as goalkeeper Steward Ceus made several key saves. The Strikers (2-1-2, 7) entered the match with one of the league’s most potent attacks, but left the match without adding to their total of seven goals this season. The teams remain even on points in the standings, and the result kept the Silverbacks unbeaten in 2015.
Jacksonville Armada 2, San Antonio Scorpions 1
NASL newcomer Jacksonville Armada FC (2-0-2, 6 points) erased a two-game losing streak when Akeil Barrett found Keita for the game-winner in the 90th minute. For San Antonio (0-1-3), the loss leaves them with a lone point through its first four matches.
The goal ended a deadlock that had lasted since the 8th minute of the match. The Armada, returning home after two games on the road, opened the scoring in the 4th minute on a goal by Pascal Millien. The Scorpions drew even four minutes later when Omar Cummings, a veteran from Jamaica, struck a perfect side volley that slammed past Jacksonville goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo.
