WHO

New York Cosmos vs. Miami FC

WHEN & WHERE

Saturday, April 1 at 7:00 p.m. ET | MCU Park in Brooklyn, New York

WATCH & FOLLOW

Watch LIVE on BeIN Sports and WPIX11
Follow @NYCosmos and #NYCvMIA on Twitter for updates

THE STAKES

The New York Cosmos last met Miami FC in their final home game of the Fall 2016 NASL Regular Season, winning 4-0 at Shuart Stadium.

Saturday's home opener at the Cosmos' new grounds, MCU Park, won't be the club's debut at the venue. The Cosmos played two games in Brooklyn in 2015 – a 1-0 win over Ottawa and a 2-1 win in a Championship Semifinal against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Saturday's game will be the first of two back-to-back home and away games against Miami FC.

Miami finished fifth in the Fall 2016 NASL season, 14 points below the Cosmos, who finished first.

New York will be up against a formidable goalkeeper. Miami's regular starter, Mario Daniel Vega, who had the most saves by any keeper in the NASL last season, blocking 106 of 148 shots, and was in goal for all 10 of his team's clean sheets.

Both teams are coming off draws on the road in their season openers. The Cosmos were scoreless at Puerto Rico FC, while Miami recovered from an early North Carolina lead through an equalizer by Kwadwo Poku to finish 1-1.

MATCHUP HISTORY

The Cosmos have an undefeated 3-0-0 (W-D-L) record against Miami FC. New York have yet to concede a goal at home against Miami.

NOTES

A Cosmos Reunion

Defender, Gabriel Farfán, defender, Hunter Freeman, as well as midfielder Michael Lahoud could face their former Cosmos teammates in Saturday's game. Farfán featured in the Cosmos' 3-0 win against Miami last season, scoring his first goal for NY. All three players started for Miami in their season opener against North Carolina.

Clifton Calling

Midfielder, Danny Szetela, can once more go head-to-head with fellow Clifton, New Jersey native, Miami FC defender, Jonathan Borrajo. Both 29-year-olds can boast of Soccer Bowl victories - Szetela with the Cosmos in 2013 and Borrajo with the San Antonio Scorpions in 2014.

NASL Team of the Week

Two Cosmos players were named to the NASL Team of the Week for Week 1 of the 2017 Spring Season – Cosmos goalkeeper, Jimmy Maurer, and defender, Carlos Mendes.

Latest Signings

Defender, Darrius Barnes, and midfielder, Salvatore Barone, signed for the Cosmos ahead of the season opener against Puerto Rico FC. Barnes, 30, spent most of his professional career in MLS, playing a total of eight seasons at New England Revolution. He made his Cosmos debut in the starting lineup and played a full 90 minutes in last Saturday's scoreless tie at Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel. Barone, 21, joins the club after training with the senior team during this year’s preseason. In 2016, Barone played with the Brooklyn Italians.

Milestone Man

Defender, David Diosa, could make his 40th appearance for the club on Saturday. A Cosmos youth product, Diosa made 23 appearances, including 11 starts, in the 2016 NASL Regular Season and was NASL Goal of the Year nominee.