Indy Eleven & NY Cosmos Advance to NASL Championship Final
Indy Eleven and the New York Cosmos will meet in the NASL Championship Final scheduled for November 13th. Indy topped FC Edmonton to advance to its first title game, while the Cosmos reach the final for their third appearance in the last four years.
NASL Soccer News: The Championship Final is set, and will feature the top two clubs from the 2016 North American Soccer League (NASL) campaign.
Spring Season Champion Indy Eleven edged FC Edmonton, 1-0, on Saturday to book its spot in the league’s title match. Later that afternoon, the Fall Season Champion New York Cosmos came from behind to top visiting Rayo OKC, 2-1.
As the No. 1 seed in The Championship, the NASL’s four-team playoff tournament, the Cosmos have earned the right to host the final at Belson Stadium in Queens, N.Y., on Sunday, November 13th, at 7 p.m. ET. The match will air live on CBS Sports Network, which is available in 60 million homes across North America.
“It’s fitting that the top two sides from 2016 took care of business in the semifinals and advanced to play for the Soccer Bowl Trophy on November 13,” said NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson. “These two clubs have had an incredible year and both of them have rosters with extremely talented players. It’s going to be an exciting matchup in New York, and congratulations to the Cosmos and Eleven on advancing to the title game.”
The Championship Final will be the Cosmos’ third appearance in the title game in the last four seasons, while for Indy Eleven, it will be its first. The clubs faced each other three times in the 2016 campaign, with each side posting a 1-1-1 record.
Indy kicked off Saturday’s playoff festivities in the afternoon with a thrilling victory over a strong FC Edmonton side. Midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic scored the winner in a semifinal contest that was played in front of a sellout crowd of 9,702 fans.
In the second semifinal matchup, New York found itself down for most of the match against Rayo OKC. The hosts stormed back, however, with goals from Venezuelan duo Juan Arango and Yohandry Orozco proving to be enough to advance.
For more on The Championship Final, visit the NASL’s official page for the postseason here.
Photo Credit: North American Soccer League
