New York Cosmos vs Ottawa Fury FC
Soccer News: Fittingly the 2015 NASL Championship Final will feature the two teams that finished the regular season with identical records – the top seed New York Cosmos and the second seed Ottawa Fury FC who were separated in the standings by a differences in goals scored that favored the Cosmos.
The Spring Season Champions against the Fall Season Champions – a dream title match to conclude a dream season for Fury FC.
Break down the stats, watch match footage, size up the rosters. No matter how your measure it the differences are minimal … and yet remarkably vast.
New York Cosmos
Arguably the most recognized pro soccer brand in North America that boasts a foothold on the international scene. A roster once decorated by legends such as Pélé and Beckenbauer is now adorned by a pair of Spanish idols in Marcos Senna and Raul who will go for one final piece of silverware to close out their illustrious careers.
Ottawa Fury FC
The new kids on the block that in just two short years find themselves on the cusps of a North American championship. The ambitious architect – Marc Dos Santos – developed a solid foundation in the club’s inaugural campaign and identified the necessary ingredients to ensure the club achieved its second-year goal of reaching the postseason. A Team, with a capital ‘T’, which thrives on their patient model of play that has seen them outlast their opposition on most nights.
When Ottawa traveled to New York on September 22 and scored a 4-1 midweek victory over the Cosmos they not only dealt the Spring Season champions their first home loss in two years, they firmly cemented themselves as contenders as the club scored three straight road wins in 10 days.
While the coaching staff and players know they cannot hang their hat on that first-ever win against the Cosmos, it definitely planted a seed of confidence and belief in this squad – perhaps the two most important elements of the squads success this season.
The continuity of the squad – a back four that has started each of the last 26 matches together and several faces from 2014 again featuring prominently in 2015 – and the depth have proven key factors this season. But there is no arguing that the players’ belief in the model of play imparted by Dos Santos has been a massive contributor to the club’s success. This belief sprouted results and those results raised the level of confidence.
This Sunday, Ottawa Fury FC will face the New York Cosmos for the 2015 North American Soccer League Championship. That headline right there is all the confidence they need. A second year club that has shown the power of commitment, passion and teamwork can trump it all. One last opponent. One last match. One last goal … To Victory!
Fans that aren’t traveling to New York to take in Sunday’s Championship Final can join Fury fans for a Championship Watch Party at the Heart and Crown Preston (353 Preston Street), watch on Rogers TV Cable 22, stream the match online or tune in to TSN 1200 or Unique FM for all of the action from Hofstra University.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistants: Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho and Kyle Atkins
Fourth Official: Mark Kadlecik
Fifth Official: Eric Weisbrod
