Jesters beat Jacksonville Armada to advance to Gulf Coast Conference Division final

Jacksonville, FL.  The New Orleans Jesters defeated the Jacksonville Armada 3-1 tonight at Jangro Stadium in the NPSL Gulf Coast semifinal round.  Striker Sheldon Green led the way with a goal and an assist as the Jesters knocked off the number one seeded Armada to advance to the Conference division final.

New Orleans will take on Southern States SC on Saturday night in Hattiesburg, MS for a chance to win the 2021 NPSL Gulf Coast Conference division title and advance to the NPSL National playoffs.

New Orleans Jesters head coach Kenny Farrell,

‘What a performance from the boys tonight to come all the way to Jacksonville, who to be fair are a very good side, and to beat them and advance, it’s exactly what we were looking for. We’ve shown that we can perform in these high pressure games and now we have a chance to go a step further on Saturday.” 

The Jesters took the lead in the 4th minute after Soren Yusachek picked out Sheldon Green at the halfway line. Green dribbled forward and beat his defender before drilling the ball inside the far post. 

Jacksonville pulled level in the 11th minute but the Jesters scored a second five minutes later to make it 2-1.  

Green was involved again this time as creator as he used his power to drop the left back to the floor with a shoulder to shoulder challenge then picked out Mason Walsh at the far post who tapped in to finish the move. 

Jacksonville tried to impose itself on the game after the break but it was the New Orleans defense that controlled the flow of the match.  Goalkeeper Qamil Dervashaj was largely untroubled throughout the game as defenders in front of him bossed the proceedings.

Playing on the counter-attack, the Jesters added an insurance goal with just over ten minutes to go as Jowayne Laidley drove to the bye-line before whipping in a cross that was turned into his own goal by an Armada defender.

The Gulf Coast Conference division final vs Southern States SC will kick off at 7:30 PM CST on Saturday night in Hattiesburg, MS and will be streamed live at mycujoo.tv.