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Armada FC battles to draw in front of biggest home crowd of season

A big crowd of nearly 5,000 helped propel the Jacksonville Armada to a 1-1 draw with North Carolina F.C.
Nearly 5,000 people, including some in Halloween costumes, watched the Jacksonville Armada battle to a 1-1 draw against North Carolina FC  PHOTO: Neal Bennett/First Coast News 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The biggest home crowd of the season including several dressed as ghosts and goblins dressed for an early Halloween witnessed the Jacksonville Armada score a 1-1 draw against North Carolina F.C., moving the home squad temporarily into a playoff position in the NASL standings.

On a night that featured a post-match fireworks show, it was the Armada that provided early fireworks. The home team opened up the scoring in the 22nd minute, when Tony Taylor hit Zach Steinberger on a perfect cross, which Steinberger easily volleyed into the back of the net.

However, the lead did not last long as North Carolina's Renan Gorne beat Armada goalie Caleb Patterson-Sewell for the equalizer in the 36th minute, The Armada and home fans thought the goal scorer was offsides but the arguments fell on deaf ears.

Both teams had opportunities in the second half but neither team could find the back of the net.

The match drew a Hodges Stadium Armada record of 4,967.

Jacksonville returns to action Wednesday night October 18 for a home match with F.C. Edmonton. The Armada sits in fourth place in the NASL standings, a position that would qualify them for their first playoff spot in team history. However, they are only one point ahead of the New York Cosmos, who play Saturday against Edmonton in Brooklyn, NY.

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