Photo by New York Cosmos/NASL
By RYAN TOLMICH
Week 3 of the NASL Spring Season is in the books, and it was far from kind to those that were looking to establish themselves as early season contenders.
Preseason contenders Minnesota United FC and the San Antonio Scorpions have both started the season with a limp, furthered by their losses this weekend to the sophomore due of Ottawa Fury FC and Indy Eleven, respectively.
Meanwhile, both the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Fort Lauderdale Strikers impressed in recent weeks before falling over the weekend.
Sitting unblemished remain the Cosmos, whose victory over the aforementioned Rowdies have added some credence to the hype and hoopla of a busy offseason.
Here is what SBI is thinking following NASL Week 3:
COSMOS ASSERTING THEMSELVES AS FRONTRUNNERS FOR SPRING CROWN
Through three weeks of the NASL season, the New York Cosmos have staked a quick claim to the title of NASL’s best side.
With seven points through three games, the Cosmos sit top of the league, with the club’s most impressive performance coming Saturday in a 2-0 victory against the Rowdies.
Walter Restrepo has proven to be a revelation for the Cosmos, providing his third assist in as many games for a side with plenty of firepower on the attacking end. Meanwhile, Raul looked the best he has in a Cosmos shirt Saturday, while Philadelphia Union loanee Leo Fernandes has made sure to bring his shooting boots to the party.
On paper, the Cosmos attack looks as good as any in NASL, and that theory has been put into practice in the season’s first few weeks. Consistency now becomes the name of the game, as the Cosmos appear to be the class of the league thus far.
PARITY ON FULL DISPLAY IN EARLY SEASON
While the NASL constantly reiterates it’s belief in a European system, American sports are based on parity, which has been on full display through the early season.
Aside from the aforementioned Cosmos, the opening three weeks has seen several sets of upset, with Week 3 presenting quite a shakeup. Out of the five matches in Week 3, the “favorites” found themselves on the losing end in four of the contests, signaling the vast improvement of talent in the league over the offseason.
In particular, Indy Eleven and Ottawa Fury FC have asserted themselves as competitive in their second season, signaling plenty of growth for their sophomore effort. With several high-profile teams sputtering and some of the league’s newer sides showing improvement, the NASL looks set to see a Spring Season as competitive as ever from top to bottom.
SCORPIONS STRUGGLES CONTINUE, BUT NO REASON TO PANIC
The San Antonio Scorpions emerged from 2014 as the league’s champions, but 2015 has been quite cruel through the first few weeks.
Undone by Indy Eleven, albeit in spectacular fashion via Sergio Pena’s 40-yard wonderful goal, the Scorpions remain the league’s only team without a point. Omar Cummings has scored two goals in as many games, but the Scorpions inability to protect their home field in back-to-back losses is slightly concerning in the early season.
However, it is far from time to hit the panic button at Toyota Field. Two losses does not make a season and, from top to bottom, the Scorpions remain one of the best teams in NASL. The Scorpions have too many veterans, too much talent and too much experience for concern in the opening weeks.
BANGURA, SILVERBACKS EARNING PRAISES
Heading into the 2014 offseason, the Silverbacks were in a state of disarray, but the first few weeks of the 2015 campaign have been fruitful due to the play of Shaka Bangura.
The Sierra Leonean striker sits tied for the league lead with a pair of goals and has proven to be the attacking piece needed for the Silverbacks’ early season results. On the back of Bangura’s finishes, the Silverbacks’ remain unbeaten through the opening three weeks, a feat seemingly impossible when assessing the team at the end of 2014.
The Silverbacks, and Bangura, are much improved, evidenced by Saturday’s road victory over the Carolina RailHawks. A matchup with the Cosmos lurks on the horizon, but the Silverbacks have done plenty to exceed expectations in the early season.
Do not speak of this blasphemous league. There is but one way to eternal soccer joy and it is through me.
“While the NASL constantly reiterates it’s belief in a European system, American sports are based on parity, which has been on full display through the early season.” — that sentence is bound to get some negative comments! — maybe you could say something like: Parity abound despite traditional league rules.
iv been surprised to see Minnesota and San Antonio at the bottom of the league. Tampa is in 5th and has picked up two difficult results in their loss and draw; hoping for more out of them as the year goes on.