WHO

  vs.  

WHEN & WHERE

Saturday, June 4 at 7 p.m. ET | Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

WATCH & FOLLOW

• Viewing party at Buffalo Wild Wings in Westbury
• Watch LIVE on ONE World Sports and ONEWorldSports.com
• Follow @NYCosmos_Match and #FTLvNYC on Twitter

THE STAKES

Atop the NASL Standings, the Cosmos (6-0-3, 18 points) approach their final Spring Season match with their fate at their feet. After winning back-to-back home league matches against the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Rayo OKC, the Cosmos have put themselves in position to capture the NASL Spring Season Championship win a win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. A draw or loss in South Florida may open the door for Indy Eleven, Minnesota United or the Carolina RailHawks. All three sides could reasonably still snatch the top spot and the postseason berth that comes with it.

The Strikers (3-3-2, 12 points), meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last four NASL matches. Former Rowdies striker Maicon Santos leads Fort Lauderdale’s attack with four goals in seven games. Defender Gale Agbossoumonde has played every minute this season for the Strikers, compiling 29 interceptions and 40 clearances.

Both New York and Fort Lauderdale are coming off midweek forays into the U.S. Open Cup’s Third Round. On Wednesday Fort Lauderdale hosted the Richmond Kickers, advancing in a penalty shootout after playing to a 1-1 draw. The Cosmos beat Jersey Express 2-0 at Belson Stadium on goals from Ayoze and Yohandry Orozco.

While this is the last match of the Spring Season for the Cosmos, Fort Lauderdale will close out its season against FC Edmonton on June 12. In 2015, the Cosmos posted a 3-1-0 (W-D-L) record against the Strikers, including a 2-1 victory in a Championship Semifinal. Raúl tallied the winning goal in that game.

MATCHUP HISTORY

In their reboot match on Aug. 3, 2013, the Cosmos defeated the Strikers 2-1 in front of a sellout crowd at Shuart Stadium. Last season New York rallied a for a 2-1 victory over Fort Lauderdale in an NASL Championship Semifinal at Coney Island's MCU Park.

The Cosmos defeated Fort Lauderdale 3-0 in Soccer Bowl ’80 with a two-goal performance from Giorgio Chinaglia, who was named MVP. New York remains undefeated against the Strikers in the modern era, with a 7-2-0 (W-D-L) record.

NOTES

The wall: Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer has five shutouts this Spring Season, the most in the NASL. His 0.50 goals against average (GAA) in eight starts is also a league-high mark.

Firepower: The Cosmos lead the NASL in both shots taken and goals scored. With 117 shots the Cosmos have scored 14 goals in the Spring Season, 10 of which have come from right-footed strikes. Juan Arango leads the Cosmos with three goals scored, followed by Jairo Arrieta, Adam Moffat and Yohandry Orozco with two each. 

Reliable: Hunter Freeman and Ayoze have played every minute of every match this Spring Season, totaling 810 minutes.