First Thoughts
In the final weekend of the NASL spring season, Ottawa Fury FC travels to New York to take on the Cosmos. They will be looking to finish a turbulent spring season with a positive result against the 2013 Soccer Bowl champions. The Cosmos head into the weekend with hopes of capturing the spring season title and automatically securing a spot in this year’s playoffs. They will need three points against the Fury and results from other league matches, however, to obtain the spring season championship.

Coming off a hard-working effort in a 1-0 victory over FC Edmonton, Ottawa’s squad will be bolstered by the returns of both Tom Heinemann and Omar Jarun. Heinemann made his Fury debut against Edmonton off the bench, while Jarun returns after missing two games due to international duty. The Fury’s creative offense faces a stiff test in a Cosmos defensive unit which has conceded only three goals in its eight games, and only once in its previous four matches.

Keep Thinking
Heading into the weekend, Ottawa occupies a mid-table position in the league standings. A Fury victory ensures that they finish the season at minimum in their currently held sixth position, with potential to climb past a Fort Lauderdale Strikers side who sit two points ahead. An Ottawa draw or defeat leaves them susceptible to dropping into the lower half of the delicate spring season table, as both the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Atlanta Silverbacks sit one point behind the Fury. With their spring season title hopes dashed, Ottawa nevertheless looks to head into the fall season within striking distance of an overall top-four position which would secure their spot in the league playoffs.

The Cosmos, meanwhile, face a similarly intricate finish to the spring season. They enter the final weekend sitting three points behind league-leading Minnesota United. A United loss in their final match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies would allow New York an opportunity to win the spring season with three points against Ottawa, barring the unlikely event that the San Antonio Scorpions, who are currently tied with the Cosmos on points, would overtake them on goal differential. Like the Fury, however, New York will be weary of the effects which a draw or loss can incur, as they would be susceptible to significantly dropping in the final spring season standings.

Ottawa’s roster will be buoyed by the return of both Tom Heinemann and Omar Jarun. Heinemann, a key signing for the Fury, made headlines in his season debut against Edmonton, as he scored a late winner in dramatic fashion for his club in its previous match. Jarun, meanwhile, returns following a successful stint with Palestine, where he helped his country win the AFC Challenge Cup and gain its first ever entry into the Asian Cup. His leadership presence will be important in stabilizing an inconsistent Fury defense which looks to build on the clean sheet it kept against the Eddies.

The Fury faces an uphill task in containing a Cosmos squad which features years of top-level experience. Richie Ryan’s anchoring presence in the defensive midfield position will be instrumental in silencing New York’s Marcos Senna, whose history includes a UEFA European Championship triumph with Spain and nearly 300 appearances with Spanish side Villarreal. Ottawa’s defenders will be challenged by a Cosmos’ attacking presence which features Mads Stokkelien and Sebastian Guenzatti, who, at 24- and 22-years old respectively, lead an offense which has generated 13 goals in its eight league games. Ottawa’s creative attackers, who have scored 14 times in the same number of league matches, face a Cosmos back-four which includes Hunter Freeman, Carlos Mendes, Roversio, and Ayoze, who each bring experience from the MLS or Spain’s La Liga.

Both the Fury and Cosmos are heavily present on the most recent NASL team of the week. Ottawa, which is featured for the fourth consecutive week and in seven of the eight spring season teams, is represented by Mason Trafford, who led a Fury defensive unit which held Edmonton off the scoreboard in its previous game. Three New York players, goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer, defender (and captain) Carlos Mendes, and midfielder Danny Szetela, feature in the team. All three were instrumental as the Cosmos kept a league-leading fifth clean sheet in their previous match against Fort Lauderdale.

Final Thoughts
Both Ottawa and New York head into this game with hopes of closing out the spring season with much-needed three points. The Fury are looking to keep pace with the league’s top four teams, and are attempting to enter the fall season within striking distance of an NASL playoff berth. The Cosmos, meanwhile, come into the league’s final weekend with an opportunity to snatch the spring season title.

The Fury’s attackers face a stellar Cosmos back-four which has conceded only three times in eight games, and features solid players with copious amounts of experience and pedigree. Heinemann’s return to Ottawa’s line-up bolsters an attack which will need a flawless performance to generate offense. The creativity of Sinisa Ubiparipovic in his attacking midfield position will be tested as he will be relied upon to spark finishing players such as Donatelli and Oliver.

As they face a team with scoring threats from all areas of the field, the play of Ottawa’s defensive players will be vital in the outcome of the match. Omar Jarun’s return provides excellent leadership as the Fury’s inconsistent defense looks to build on the form displayed against Edmonton.

Prediction
Ottawa Fury FC 1 – 2 New York Cosmos