Long Island's Carlos Mendes And Leo Fernandes To Play In 'Special' Match On Sunday

The NASL title game is returning to Long Island for the first time since 1972. The New York Cosmos won that final for the first in the club’s storied history. Now, New York can claim a title in front of its home supporters for the first time in the Modern Era – the Cosmos won a sixth NASL title in 2013 in Atlanta.

For several Cosmos members, ties to Long Island run deep. Carlos Mendes, the Cosmos’ first signing since the reboot and the club’s captain, was born and raised in Mineola, N.Y., which is only a short drive from where the Cosmos play their home games at Shuart Stadium in Hempstead.

The Cosmos hosted their first home postseason match since returning to the field in 2013 on Nov. 7, however, that game was played at MCU Park in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, N.Y. With the first postseason match on Long Island for the Cosmos in decades, it’s even more special because it’s The Championship Final.

“This is what you play for all year, to be in the championship game,” Mendes said. “It's extra special to be playing at home, in front of our fans and our family and friends. It will be a great matchup against a difficult team. If we win a second one in three years, it will be special.

“We’re very focused on the game because we realize it’s a difficult take and we look forward to it. Personally being born on Long Island and knowing the history of the Cosmos it’s something special.”

Midfielder Leo Fernandes, who was born in Brazil but grew up on Long Island, has also gotten a boost from playing in front of the home support all season long. Fernandes, who went to college at Stony Brook University, took home the league’s Young Player of the Year Award and wants to produce one more strong effort at Shuart Stadium to win his first professional title.

“All year round I’ve been playing in front of family and friends, it’s been great,” he said. “It’s been a great year for myself and to have the final now in New York with all my family and friends at the game it’s going to make me work harder and want to get the win even more. It’s going to be a fun game.”

The Cosmos head into the final match on a five-game winning streak – six unbeaten – including the 2-1 come-from-behind win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in The Championship Semifinals. Ottawa Fury FC has lost only once in 26 matches since May 2 and has a 12-match unbeaten streak on the road. Fury FC defeated the Cosmos, 4-1, at Shuart Stadium on Sept. 22.

Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese, who played for the Long Island Rough Riders close to Shuart Stadium at Mitchel Field, sees the title game as an exciting finish to an incredible 2015 season, in which the Cosmos claimed the Spring Season title, finished atop the Combined Standings and made a historic trip to Cuba.

“We’re excited about playing at home, especially because it means we did well during the year,” Savarese said. “We are excited for our fans to watch this match and to try our best to make sure that they enjoy the match.

“For us there’s a very positive environment. Everybody is very confident and prepared to play this match against a team we respect very much, a team that deserves to be in the final. It’s going to be an exciting match.”