PREVIEW | Silverbacks Head To New York Pushing For Postseason Spot

The New York Cosmos host the Atlanta Silverbacks on Sunday, Oct. 4, looking to end a two-game losing streak. With its 18-game home unbeaten streak recently coming to an end, the Cosmos will look to start it anew against Atlanta.

TEAM OVERVIEW

New York Cosmos: Entering October, it's been a tale of two months for New York. In August the Cosmos were at their best, searing through a daunting seven-game slate with five wins, two draws and no losses. September was a different story: one win, one draw and three losses, including the first two-game losing streak of the year.

The Cosmos return to Shuart Stadium fresh off a 2-1 defeat on the road to FC Edmonton. Because it was the club's third game in nine days, head coach Giovanni Savarese opted to leave some prominent starters out of the 18 in Canada, including Raúl, Ayoze, Jimmy Maurer, and Carlos Mendes.

“It’s good for us to see who we have," Savarese said after the match. "It’s good for us that it happens now and we can concentrate on what is coming in the future.

“We’re already in the playoffs. We want to make sure we finish first, we want to play the final at home and we’re treating every game in the manner that it matters. We’re very eager to keep winning games and we’re taking every game very seriously.”

Guaranteed at least a postseason semifinal at home, the Cosmos now have five matches in October to regain the top position in the Combined Standings. That would ensure home-field advantage throughout The Championship, the NASL's four-team postseason tournament.

Atlanta Silverbacks: The Silverbacks won once in 10 Spring Season matches, finishing last in the league, but they've looked like an entirely different team in the Fall. Atlanta is 6W-4D-5L since the back end of their season began on July 4. The success has them in the running for one of three remaining postseason spots, which are all (for now) still up in the air.

Unfortunately, Atlanta let a precious win slip away last weekend in San Antonio. Jaime Chavez and Rauwshan McKenzie paced the visitors to an early advantage, but the Scorpions fought back to earn a point in a 3-3 draw. The Silverbacks will have to take points off virtually every team above them in the Combined Standings to scratch their way into the postseason. Luckily their schedule affords that opportunity. Fixtures against Minnesota, Tampa Bay, and Ottawa loom after a quick home-and-home with the Cosmos.

MATCHUP HISTORY

In seven games against the Silverbacks since the reboot season the Cosmos hold a commanding 5-2-0 record, which includes the Soccer Bowl triumph two years ago. Last time they faced Atlanta the game ended in a scoreless draw at Silverbacks Park on April 25.

These two teams are separated by a single point in the league’s Fall Season Standings, with the Cosmos in fourth place (23) and Silverbacks in fifth (22).

NOTES

Double dip: The Cosmos and Silverbacks are set to match up twice in a four-day span for the first time ever. This regular season mini-series begins Sunday, Oct. 4, at Shuart Stadium and continues in Atlanta on Wednesday night, Oct. 7. The last time the Cosmos played back-to-back games against the Silverbacks they recorded consecutive, 1-0, wins: first in their 2013 regular season finale November 2 and then in the Soccer Bowl the following Saturday.

Final Foe: Atlanta is the only NASL team the Cosmos have yet to face this Fall Season. Five games remain for New York before the postseason begins, and the Silverbacks are on the schedule twice before matchups with FC Edmonton, San Antonio, and Tampa Bay close out the campaign.

Three To Go: Just three regular-season home fixtures remain for New York: Sunday’s against Atlanta, Edmonton on Oct. 11, and the Oct. 31 finale against Tampa Bay. Ottawa Fury FC snapped the Cosmos’ 18-game unbeaten streak at home last time out, so expect a squad eager to put on a show for the home fans Sunday night.

Flores In Top Form: Cosmos midfielder and Salvadoran national team captain Andrés Flores has three goals and three assists on the year, and has looked increasingly threatening with the ball at his feet this Fall Season. He netted an equalizer in the home defeat to Ottawa on Sept. 22, and nearly did it again in the 86th minute against FC Edmonton last Sunday. Flores scored his first ever Cosmos goal in Atlanta on Aug. 9, 2014.