WHERE

MUSC Health Stadium in Charleston, S.C.

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COSMOS NOTES

This matchup will be the last of a preseason spent stateside for the Cosmos. New York is 5-0-1 (WDL) in 2016 preseason fixtures so far, the lone loss coming in a tight contest against the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium on Feb. 27.

This past Saturday the Cosmos triumphed 3-0 over defending APSL champions Boca Raton FC at Boca Raton HS Stadium. Andrés Flores put the Cosmos in front less than ten minutes into the game, finishing off a ball sent to the right side of the 18-yard box by Lucky Mkosana. In the second half head coach Giovanni Savarese tapped into his bench, sending out Michael Lahoud, Yohandry Orozco, Jairo Arrieta, Yasmani Duk and David Diosa to log some minutes on the pitch and try to expand the Cosmos lead.

A 79^th-minute substitute of Diosa for Mkosana paid dividends early, as Diosa earned a free kick 20 yards away from goal. Hunter Freeman took the free kick and drilled it past the Boca Raton goalkeeper to extend the lead to 2-0. Just nine minutes later, Yasmani Duk’s attempt from the edge of the area deflected off Boca Raton defenders and in to extend the lead to 3-0, capping off an impressive victory.

On Friday the Cosmos announced the signing of Croatia international Niko Kranjčar, and the 31-year-old attacking midfielder has made the trip to Charleston. Look for him to get his first minutes as an official member of the Cosmos Saturday night at MUSC Health Stadium. The former Portsmouth FC, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers player was a training guest during the Cosmos’ preseason tour of California in late February.

ABOUT CHARLESTON BATTERY

Founded in 1993, the Charleston Battery have captured four championships in the United Soccer League (USL), most recently in 2012. In 2008 the Battery battled their way into the U.S. Open Cup Final, losing by a score of 2-1 to Major League Soccer outfit D.C. United. In 2015 Louisville City ousted the Battery in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the USL Playoffs.

In the last two seasons, the Battery have served as affiliates for the Vancouver Whitecaps and Houston Dynamo. This season, they are slated to partner with Atlanta United FC before Atlanta’s entry into MLS.

Led by a returning core of defenders, Charleston has allowed only seven goals in eight preseason games. Like the Cosmos, though, the Battery’s biggest challenge might lie in replenishing their attack for 2016. Dane Kelly, their leading goal scorer from a year ago, departed for USL expansion side Swope Park Rangers, the same club where Cosmos midfielder Jimmy Mulligan is on loan.

QUOTES

General Manager and Head Coach of the Battery Mike Anhaeuser looks upon this preseason fixture with much excitement. 

“This is Charleston Battery and the New York Cosmos,” he said. “The first time we’ve played. That’s a big deal. I mean, I grew up with the Cosmos, and a lot of people did. That was one of the biggest clubs in the world. Everybody remembers the Cosmos. It’s a big name.”

Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese also looks with much enthusiasm to this match, as it will help his squad prepare for the fast-approaching regular season.

“Playing the Battery presents a variety of challenges for us, which is a good thing,” Savarese said. “Those challenges will give us the chance to continue our maturation process. The challenges will help us further understand in what areas we need to grow as a team. Ultimately, it is a great game to prepare us for the start of our NASL season.”

Coach Anhaeuser also has much praise and appreciation for what the Cosmos have done the last couple of seasons.

“[The Cosmos are] a historic club, but what they are now is a great team in their league. They’ve been there right in it,” Anhaeuser said. “Not only are they getting the international players, they’re also getting some young players who are making them a good team.

“[Savarese] has done a great job as a coach. They’re finishing in the top two every season. It’s going to be a great game. [The Cosmos] seem to get it right every season.”

The Battery begin their USL season next Saturday, March 26 at home against FC Cincinnati, while the Cosmos welcome Ottawa Fury FC to Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium for their NASL home opener on Sunday, April 3.