The New York Cosmos will play the San Francisco Deltas at Kezar Stadium at 8:00 p.m. ET. In preparing for any game, home or away, knowledge is power.

 

Here are some of the Deltas' key performers the Cosmos should watch out for:

 

 

 

The Deltas are currently tied for the league lead in shutouts (7), and they have goalkeeper, Romuald Peiser, to thank. The veteran keeper has helped San Francisco keep clean sheets in two of their last three home games.

 

Peiser is fourth in the league in saves (41), behind Cosmos keeper, Jimmy Maurer (47). However, Peiser has also conceded the third-most goals in the NASL (21). The shot-stopper has punched the ball to safety on six occasions and produced 17 clearances. New York can be on the lookout for any errors or loose balls from the keeper in Saturday's game.

 

 

 

Reiner Ferreira has played the third most minutes for the Deltas and the most among the team's defenders. The Deltas are unbeaten in four of their last five games this year, and Ferreira has played at least an hour in each of those games. His absence for San Francisco is just as significant as his presence. Ferreira's sending off in the 35th minute against Miami FC on July 8 left the Deltas without a center back, contributing to their 7-0 defeat.

 

 

 

Deltas winger, Danny Cruz, scored the equalizer to earn his team a point on the road against Jacksonville Armada FC on July 30. The Glendale, Arizona native's MLS and Youth World Cup experience has paid off for the Deltas, resulting in one goal and two assists in 10 starts. Despite starting in front for San Francisco in the last matchup against the Cosmos on April 29, Cruz ended up playing a more defensive role, winning seven of 11 duels, making four interceptions, and totaling two clearances.

 

Cruz is also effective coming off the bench – San Francisco are unbeaten in all competitions in games when the 5 foot 8-inch winger has been subbed in (4W-2D-0L).

 

 

 

San Francisco's top scorer, Tommy Heinemann, tallies five goals in 16 appearances this year. The Cosmos will need to closely mark Heinemann and keep him from reaching the area, as all of his goals have come from inside the 18-yard box. New York will need to take his height into account, as well. The 6 foot 4-inch forward is great at winning balls in the air – he's won nearly half of his aerial duels (50/105). Two of Heinemann's goals were headers, making him one of four NASL players with multiple headed goals this season.

 

The Cosmos and Deltas square off at 8:00 p.m. ET. Watch the game live on MSG Networks and via Twitter (@sfdeltas).