By Wilson Sy

• 12,550: In Raúl's home debut on April 18 the New York Cosmos picked up a 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies in front of a sold-out, record-breaking crowd. 12,550 spectators packed into Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University, the highest home attendance figure of the Cosmos modern era.

“It is definitely one of the greatest days of the new era,” Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese said after the match. “We had a lot of energy. It wasn’t only the amount of people, but there was a lot of energy inside the place. The team performance as well helped. It was a great night to see so many fans.”

• 7: After the first three contests for the Cosmos this season, New York leads the NASL with seven points via two wins and a draw. Before besting the Rowdies in their home opener the Cosmos took three points from Fort Lauderdale on the road and drew Indy Eleven 1-1 in Indianapolis.

The Cosmos are the only team in the league with two wins in the first three weeks of the season. New York is currently two points ahead of Indy and the Atlanta Silverbacks in the NASL’s Spring Season standings. Behind those three clubs is a four-way tie: Carolina, Tampa Bay, Edmonton and Ottawa have four points each. The RailHawks have the edge on goal differential over their competition.

The Cosmos can build on their best start of the modern era with a road win over the Silverbacks this Saturday, April 25. It’ll be a matchup of two of the league’s three remaining unbeaten teams.

• 3: In three contests winger Walter Restrepo has played a huge role in setting up the Cosmos attack. The midfielder has assisted on three of the four Cosmos goals this year.

In the season opener Restrepo served a perfect corner to fellow winger Leo Fernandes in the 58^th minute to seal a 1-0 win over the Strikers. His second assist provided Raúl with his first Cosmos goal, a header in the 65^th minute against Indy Eleven. In New York’s most recent fixture Restrepo was able to find an open Fernandes for another goal.

• 2: Fernandes is having an impressive start for the Cosmos after signing on a yearlong loan from the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer back in January. The midfielder is one of six NASL players with two or more goals in the first three weeks of the season. He’s in good company on his own team, too; the other two Cosmos goal scorers this season are Raúl and Marcos Senna.

• 1: The number of goals allowed through three matches says a lot about Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer and the team’s defense. In two of the first three contests, Maurer saved a total of 10 shots. The Cosmos have held an edge in possession in each of their three matches. The return of 6-foot-2 Brazilian center back Rovérsio from injury has shored up one of the most consistently stout back lines in the league. Rovérsio was named to the NASL’s Team of the Week after his contributions to shutting out the Rowdies this past Saturday.

The Atlanta Silverbacks, New York’s next opponent, are right behind the Cosmos in goals allowed. The upcoming showdown will be a fight for first place.