News

Preview: Fall Season Kicks Off at Home vs. Fury

The Cosmos resume their NASL title defense on Saturday night at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.
Published Jul 1, 2016

WHO

  vs.  

WHEN & WHERE

Saturday, July 2 at 7 p.m. ET | Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University

  • Cosmos B doubleheader: The Cosmos reserves are eyeing an NPSL division title, taking on Greater Lowell United FC at 4 p.m.
  • July Fourth Weekend fun: Get autographs, play carnival games, take part in soccer clinics and more!

WATCH & FOLLOW

THE STAKES

The NASL Fall Season kicks off Saturday with six games scheduled across the league, including the New York Cosmos hosting Ottawa Fury FC at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.

Ottawa’s Spring was not ideal, landing a ninth-place finish by collecting nine points with a 2-3-5 (W-D-L) record. The Cosmos concluded the NASL Spring Season with six wins and four defeats, good for a second-place finish behind Indy Eleven. Both teams secured 18 points, a +7 goal differential and 15 goals scored, but Indy Eleven’s 2-1 win over the Cosmos on April 16 acted as the tiebreaker.

The Cosmos can gain entry into The Championship—the NASL’s four-team postseason tournament—by either winning the Fall Season or finishing with one of the top two point totals among clubs that don’t take home Spring or Fall hardware.

Saturday’s match will be the first of three home league matches for the Cosmos in the month of July. The Jacksonville Armada come to town on July 13, then the Cosmos will play expansion side Puerto Rico FC for the first time on July 30.

MATCHUP HISTORY

New York kicked off the 2016 NASL Spring Season with a 3-0 home win against the Ottawa Fury. These two sides also faced off in the NASL Championship Final on Nov. 7, 2015 at Shuart Stadium, where the Cosmos captured their seventh league title with a 3-2 victory.  It was the last professional match for both Marcos Senna and Raùl.

NOTES

Stars in the Cosmos: Midfielder Juan Arango led New York in goals during the Spring Season with four, followed by Jairo Arrieta, Adam Moffat and Yohandry Orozco with two each. Nine players contributed to the Cosmos’ 15 goals through 10 matches. Ottawa’s Carl Haworth led his side with three goals, finishing the Spring Season on a hot streak with a goal in each of the team’s last three NASL games.

Man in the middle: Cosmos captain Carlos Mendes led the back line with 30 clearances in the Spring Season and played all but four minutes. Mendes also added four blocks, six tackles and 26 interceptions.