PREVIEW | Cosmos Host Fury FC In Key Clash Atop NASL Standings

The New York Cosmos and Ottawa Fury FC square off in a key matchup as the top team in the Fall Season visits the Combined Standings leaders. New York is hoping to increase its lead in the Combined Season, while Ottawa will want to add to its Fall Season advantage.  

TEAM OVERVIEW

New York Cosmos: The Cosmos are coming off of a 0-0 draw on Saturday night against Minnesota United. The game was fairly balanced as neither team had much of an advantage in attacks (26-24 Minnesota), shots on target (4-4), total shots (11-9 Minnesota), or time of possession (50-50). The Cosmos had chances to make their mark on the scoresheet as Walter Restrepo and Raúl almost broke the scoreless tie in the 19th and 53rd minutes.

On the other end, Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer made a spectacular save on an Alejandro Vela strike in the 83rd minute.

Minnesota goals from Daniel Mendes and Christian Ramirez were disallowed in the 69th and 73rd minutes, respectively. Mendes’ shot was called back due to a handball and Ramirez’s was waived off for offside. The 0-0 result extended the Cosmos’ unbeaten streak against Minnesota to eight matches.

With the draw, the Cosmos maintain their three-point lead over the Loons in the Combined Season Standings. The Cosmos are looking to keep this edge to secure home field advantage throughout The Championship, the NASL's four-team postseason tournament. Entering Tuesday’s match, the Cosmos look to extend their unbeaten streak at Shuart Stadium to 19 matches.

Ottawa Fury FC: Since their last meeting with the Cosmos on August 26, Fury FC is undefeated in four matches, going 2W-2D-0L. Their last result came in a 2-0 away victory against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday night. A second-half offensive attack with goals from Aly Alberto Hassan (52^’) and Sinisa Ubiparipovic (81’) gave Ottawa its eighth victory of the Fall Season.

The victory extended Ottawa’s seven-match unbeaten streak away from home. Fury FC is looking for its first ever victory over the Cosmos. With Minnesota United’s draw against the Cosmos, Ottawa is now two points ahead of United in the Fall Standings.

MATCHUP HISTORY

The Cosmos and Fury FC have played each other twice this season. The first matchup was a memorable one, as Lucky Mkosana’s 14th-minute goal gave the Cosmos a victory in their Brooklyn debut at MCU Park back on May 2.

The Cosmos’ most recent matchup with Ottawa was a scoreless slugfest on August 26 at TD Place. The Cosmos maintained an advantage in possession (56-44), but neither team had a true edge on offense as they were nearly deadlocked on attacks (28-26 Cosmos) and shots on target (3-2 Ottawa).

NOTES

Midweek Matchups: On Tuesday night, the Cosmos will play their third weeknight game this NASL season. New York beat Minnesota, 2-1, at home on Wednesday, August 5 and drew Ottawa 0-0 on the road Wednesday, August 26. Fury FC met the Cosmos after back-to-back games against Fort Lauderdale on August 12 (D 0-0) and August 19 (W 2-0). The Cosmos will play one more weeknight game this year – in Atlanta against the Silverbacks on Wednesday, October 7.

Great Goalkeeping: The NASL’s top two goalkeepers will face off as Ottawa’s Romuald Peiser brings his NASL-best 0.78 GAA (goals against average) against the Cosmos’ Jimmy Maurer (0.91 GAA). Maurer kept a clean sheet against high-scoring Minnesota United this past Saturday in a road draw, while Peiser helped blank the Strikers at Lockhart Stadium to secure a Fury win.

A Sign Of Things To come?: Oliver netted his first two NASL goals this year during Ottawa’s last four games. The Brazilian forward was the club’s top scorer in 2014.

Shots Fired: The Cosmos look to crack 200 shots taken for the season Tuesday night. They stand atop the NASL in the category with 196 shots.