New York Cosmos (4-3-0, 15 points) vs. San Antonio Scorpions (2-1-3, 7 points)
Saturday, May 23 at 7 p.m. ET | Come early to see Cosmos B and collect Pelé bobbleheads, stay late for fireworks by Grucci!
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New York Cosmos: After a late rally to score two goals in stoppage time, the Cosmos remained undefeated by tying the Carolina RailHawks 2-2 last Saturday. Cosmos winger Walter Restrepo created a chance that ended in an own goal from Carolina in the 90th minute, then Andrés Flores equalized in the final seconds.
Through seven matches of the 10-game season, the Cosmos are approaching a spring title with Tampa Bay and Jacksonville looming close behind. New York still remains atop the NASL Standings with 15 points, three points ahead of the Rowdies and five higher than Jacksonville. Tampa Bay will have a bye this weekend, while Armada FC will take on fourth place Minnesota United FC. Winning the Spring Season would guarantee New York a postseason position.
San Antonio Scorpions: After falling in three of their first four matches, the Scorpions are coming off consecutive victories in their past two. Forward Billy Forbes scored two goals in against FC Edmonton last Sunday, including the game-deciding strike in the 82nd minute, to pull away with a 3-2 win. Forbes was also named NASL Player of the Week after leading San Antonio to its first franchise win in Edmonton with his first-ever two goal game as a pro.
Forbes was the first Scorpion to be named the NASL Player of the Week and became the second player in club history to win the award multiple times, joining Pablo Campos (5). Scorpions forward Omar Cummings leads the NASL in total goals (4) this season.
San Antonio’s three-way tie with Fort Lauderdale and Carolina will likely change after this weekend, as the Strikers and RailHawks will kick off in Lockhart Stadium Saturday.
The Cosmos are 2-1-4 (WDL) all-time against San Antonio. All four contests during the 2014 NASL Season resulted in wins for the Scorpions. The most recent meeting was in the 2014 postseason semifinals. San Antonio prevailed 2-1 on November 8 at Toyota Field via an 110th-minute goal created by winger Walter Restrepo, who now plays for New York.
“At home so far we’ve been good at jumping on teams, and we need to do the same against [San Antonio]. They’re a very difficult team. They always give us a good game.”
-Carlos Mendes
"It’s important for us to step on the field, do the things we’ve been working hard to do and hopefully get the right result."