Juan Arango, Michel Enjoying Best Goalscoring Years Of Careers
Photo credit: Tony Lewis/FC Edmonton
With The Championship, the NASL’s four-team postseason tournament, around the corner, several veterans are leading their teams by example.
New York Cosmos midfielder Juan Arango and Rayo OKC midfielder Michel have shouldered the goalscoring load for their sides. For both, it has been the best season in terms of goals during league play during their careers.
Arango, 36, has scored more goals in the regular season for the Cosmos in the NASL Modern Era than any other player. Arango has found the back of the net 15 times, appearing in 29 of New York’s 31 matches thus far. In his career, Arango never found the target more than 12 times during league play, which came back in 2007-08 while playing for Mallorca in La Liga.
The Venezuelan star recently scored from a free kick, a trademark of his career that earned him the nickname Arangol, in the club’s 4-0 win over Miami FC that earned the club a new home unbeaten streak record at home (19). Arango added two assists in the game. He also found the net twice, from free kicks, in a 4-2 win over Jacksonville Armada FC that ultimately clinched the Fall Season title and No. 1 postseason seed.
“The system the team uses allows me to position myself in a more attacking role,” Arango told NASL.com. “Having teammates that constantly back me up has allowed me to score valuable goals for the team.”
The system under new Rayo OKC coach Gerard Nus has also allowed Michel, 35, to flourish. With the club in the midst of an unbeaten streak that has stretched to eight matches, the Brazilian veteran has scored six times. He also scored three key goals in the past two wins that has thrust the club right in the mix to play in November.
“In the last two matches, high pressing has helped,” he said. “Coach Nus positions me closer to goal and gives me motivation to hunger for more and more.”
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While Michel’s goal tally of 14 has been aided by six goals off penalty kicks, he’s been doing the recent damage from the run of play, which is how he’s gotten his last three. His 14 tallies have come in 27 appearances while Michel’s previous high in goals was 10 with MLS’s FC Dallas in 2014.
Both Arango and Michel pointed to their teammates for the goalscoring success across the Spring and Fall Season during 2016.
“Playing along several talented players is a great support system for me and gives me confidence to push our offensive line forward,” Arango said. “It comes down to winning matches as a group that will eventually put the club closer to a championship.”
Michel added: “Of course I share this with my teammates because without them I can't get anything.”
With Arango’s contributions, the Cosmos are headed to the postseason for a fourth consecutive time and await their opponent in The Championship Semifinal on Nov. 5.
“Playing the postseason in November means we are right on track to achieving our goal,” he said. “We are very happy to have won the Fall Season, but now we are focused on staying strong and working hard to finish the job. This team has a winning mentality and we are constantly looking forward to the next challenge.”
Michel and Rayo OKC are hoping to join the Cosmos in the postseason and would in fact have a trip to New York if the club is to succeed in that goal.
“It would mean everything for a first-year club,” Michel said. “If we get in the playoffs this year, it already is in the history books. We all are thinking of playing in November.”
