PREVIEW | Cosmos Look To Continue Strong Past Results Against Strikers

With the three match road swing now complete, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers return home to host a familiar foe in the New York Cosmos.

Saturday’s matchup comes on the heels of a tough one-goal loss Wednesday night.  Fort Lauderdale battled hard, but came up short against the Atlanta Silverbacks at Silverbacks Park in Atlanta, dropping a 2-1 decision.

After trailing the game 1-0 in the 41st minute with a goal from Pedro Mendes, the Strikers tied the match with Walter Ramirez converting a shot through a narrow opening of the near post in the 49th minute. The goal was Ramirez’s third of the Fall Season.

It appeared that both teams would play to a third consecutive draw before Mendes found the back of the net again in the 66th minute.

The Strikers had several opportunities to equalize before things went awry starting in the 84th minute. Stefano was handed a straight red after a collision with Silverbacks midfielder Josh Hughes. In extra time, the Silverbacks maintained the ball in the corner to wind down the clock until a yellow card was awarded to Strikers defender Fabian Kling. It was followed by red cards for defender Karsten Smith and midfielder James Marcelin after overly aggressive challenges. As a result, Fort Lauderdale played out the match with eight men.

The Strikers are 1W-3D-2L in the Fall Season. Saturday’s tilt will be the second meeting between the two longtime rivals in less than a week. Fort Lauderdale lost, 2-0, in New York last Sunday. New York enters Saturday’s match coming off a 2-1 home win Wednesday against Minnesota United.

“We were completely competitive in the first game [against the Cosmos],” head coach Günter Kronsteiner said. “The only difference was the goals we gave up.  The goals were too easy.”

With three regular starters suspended, the Strikers will show a different look in terms of formation and the starting lineup.