ARMADA U-23S DOWN KRAZE UNITED 6-1

The Jacksonville Armada U-23s got a pair of goals from Leo De Smedt in a span of four minutes as the visitors downed the Kraze United 6-1 at Trinity Prep.

“Jacksonville is a good team,” Kraze United coach Joe Avallone said. “They are a playoff caliber team. They are a unit and play very well together. I think they should be the team that advances from our conference.”

De Smedt scored in the 58th minute when he sent a rocket in from the wing, giving the Armada a 2-0 lead.  But it was De Smedt’s second goal of the night that hurt the Kraze the most.

Kendall Crouse shown red for hard foul inside box and De Smedt was awarded a penalty kick in the 62nd minute.

De Shemdt’s two goals against Kraze give the Lille, France product seven in seven games this season.

“(De Smedt) has been big for us all year,” Armada coach Pat Cannon said. “He’s a guy we look to produce for us and he has every game.”

Ciaran McKenna scored in the 75th minute to make it 3-0 after Kraze keeper Marco Lujan made a diving save, but could not handle the ball as it bounced to the right side of the 18-yard box.  Helge Pietschmann and Josh Donnelly each added a goal later in the second half for the Armada.

“It was unfortunate for the Kraze to get the red card,” Cannon added. “Playing a man up with tired legs, we just kept pressing and it paid off for us.”

The Kraze’s lone goal of the night came in the 79th minute when Kevin Rockwell worked his way through traffic and scored from just outside the 18-yard box.

“They were playing well as a unit and we seemed to be a little detached tonight,” Avallone concluded. “At that point in time we were throwing numbers forward to try to get something.”

Victor Rojas scored the Armada’s first goal.

The Kraze are back in action June 24th when they host Storm FC at Trinity Prep. Game time is 6 pm.