BROOKLYN, N.Y. — FC Edmonton and the New York Cosmos renew pleasantries for the first time this season when the two clubs meet at MCU Park in Brooklyn at 5:30 PM MT on Wednesday, June 7. The match will be streamed live on NASL.com.
Wednesday’s meeting comes following a rescheduling from the fixture’s original date of May 21 and FC Edmonton’s 3-0 loss on the road this past Saturday against Puerto Rico FC. It’s the club’s second match in five days before a quick turnaround and return to Clarke Stadium on Saturday, June 10 when the Eddies entertain league-leading Miami FC.
“[New York] have quality from front-to-back and we know the task at hand tomorrow night,” FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller said. “We can’t play near the way we did last Saturday in Puerto Rico. We have to be far better, but the positive thing about a midweek game is we get a quick opportunity to bounce back after a poor performance. From a motivational point of view, everyone knows we have to be better because we’re facing the champions from last season.”
After taking one point from their first two games, the Cosmos have gone unbeaten (4W-3D-0L) in their past seven fixtures and sit third in the North American Soccer League (NASL) Spring Season standings. The two sides hold identical records (3W-5D-3L) in 11 matches against one another in their history, with the Eddies getting the best of the Cosmos in 2016 with two wins and a draw in three meetings.
Away matches for FC Edmonton this season have proven difficult, taking one point from five matches (0W-1D-4L) and scoring one goal. For the Cosmos, a 3-0 loss to Miami FC on April 1 has been followed up with a win and two draws, conceding four goals in the three matches at MCU Park.
“We know defensively we’re going to be under a lot of pressure tomorrow night,” Miller said. “What I want to see is us managing the ball and situations, individually and collectively. They press high together as a unit, they’re well-prepared and are an exciting team. It’s going to take all hands at the pump.”
FC Edmonton’s Allan Zebie was unavailable in Saturday’s loss to Puerto Rico due to a hamstring injury, but the 24-year-old Paris, France product has rejoined his teammates in New York ahead of Wednesday’s clash. Zebie has played 420 minutes in six appearances (five starts) so far this season — only 126 minutes off his 2016 total. Defender/midfielder Adam Straith has joined up with the Canadian Men’s National Team ahead of manager Octavio Zambrano’s first match in charge against Curaçao on June 13 in Montréal.
“[Allan] is 100 percent fit and comes in number-wise to replace Adam Straith, who’s departed for Montréal,” Miller commented. “We could’ve pushed Allan to be ready for the Puerto Rico match, but he’s looked good in training and now comes to New York fresh and is a welcomed addition to the squad.”