New Orleans Jesters Defeat Florida Roots FC 4-1

By New Orleans Jesters

The New Orleans Jesters defeated Florida Roots FC 4-1 Saturday night at Pan American Stadium.  The win secures the Jesters the third seed in the Gulf Coast Conference, and New Orleans will now advance to the Conference semifinal versus Southern States SC on Wednesday night in Hattiesburg, MS. 

The Jesters opened the scoring in the 24th minute after earning a free kick twenty yards out. Midfielder Victor Domingues took the kick and whipped a curling shot past the goalkeeper into the bottom left corner. 

Just before halftime New Orleans doubled their advantage with another converted free kick.  This time it was forward Lucho Galizzi who drilled his left-footed shot into the top right corner to make it 2-0.

The Jesters made it 3-0 just after halftime after substitute midfielder Jesus Rivera’s speculative shot struck the post and rebounded back into play.  Forward Maxi Galizzi latched onto the loose ball and smashed a shot home from just inside the box.

Florida Roots pulled a goal back in the 64th minute with midfielder Jake Mckettrick converting a penalty kick.  Then New Orleans added a fourth goal in the 78th minute as substitute midfielder Sammy Nicholls lifted the ball into the empty net after the Roots goalkeeper was caught out of position. 

Wednesday night’s match versus SSSC will be broadcast live on Eleven Sports, and kickoff is set for 7:30 pm. In the other half of the bracket Jacksonville ArmadaFC U-23 will face Pensacola FC. 

The Gulf Coast Conference championship match will take place next Saturday night with the winner of the Jesters vs. Southern States SC game facing off versus either Jacksonville or Pensacola FC. 

Photo Credit: James Cage Jr./New Orleans Jesters