2020–21 New York Cosmos season
# 2020–21 New York Cosmos season

The 2020–21 New York Cosmos season was the new Cosmos' sixth season of professional play and first playing in the National Independent Soccer Association. Including the previous franchise, it was the 20th season of a club entitled New York Cosmos playing professional soccer in the New York metropolitan area.

New York finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference during the NISA Fall Season before failing to advance out of the group stage of the Fall Championship. Prior to the Spring Season, the team announced it would be going on hiatus.

## Background

In the Cosmos final season in the North American Soccer League, the team earned a 10–15–7 combined regular season record and qualified for the playoffs as a fourth seed. In the Soccer Bowl playoffs, the Cosmos defeated Spring and Fall regular season champion Miami FC in the semifinals via penalty kick shootout. On November 12, 2017, the team lost to the San Francisco Deltas, 2–0, in Soccer Bowl 2017.

Following the USSF's decision to deny the NASL division 2 sanctioning and the subsequent cancelation of the 2018 season, the Cosmos organization moved players and staff to the New York Cosmos B. This reserve team had already been playing within the semi-professional National Premier Soccer League, which was governed by the United States Adult Soccer Association, and had won its national title during its inaugural season in 2015. For the next two seasons using a mix of first team and reserve players, Cosmos B, playing games at both Mitchel Athletic Complex and Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium, finished the regular season first in the North Atlantic Conference and won the conference playoff championship both times. In 2019, the team qualified for the NPSL National Championship but fell to fellow NASL cast-off Miami FC, 3–1, at Mitchell. The team also qualified for both the 2018 and 2019 U.S. Open Cup tournaments, the former being through special permission, and reached the Play-In and Second Rounds in each respectively.

In 2019, the team attempted to rejoin the professional ranks within the NPSL's proposed professional league along with ten other teams. However, this never came to be and the originally titled "Founder's Cup," set to be a precursor tournament to the league, was renamed to the NPSL Member's Cup with the Cosmos first team taking part along with five others including Chattanooga FC and Detroit City FC. The Cosmos finished second in the competition behind Detroit City. In June of that year, team owner Rocco B. Commisso completed the purchase of Serie A side ACF Fiorentina.

In addition, the team also hosted 2. Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli on May 23, beating the German side, 2–1, at Columbia University.

On November 21, 2019, the Cosmos were announced as the newest member of the National Independent Soccer Association with plans to begin to play the following year.

## Club

### Roster

    As of March 16, 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Player | Nation |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2 | DF | Armando Guarnera | United States |
| 3 | DF | Pedro Galvão | United States |
| 5 | DF | Matt Lewis | United States |
| 6 | DF | CJ Weinstein | United States |
| 8 | FW | Geo Alves | Cape Verde |
| 11 | FW | Aly Hassan | United States |
| 12 | GK | Steward Ceus | Haiti |
| 13 | DF | Ansi Agolli | Albania |
| 15 | FW | Shavon John-Brown | Grenada |
| 16 | FW | Isaac Acuña | Mexico |
| 17 | MF | Salvatore Barone | United States |
| 20 | FW | Darwin Espinal | Honduras |
| 21 | MF | John Denis | United States |
| 22 | GK | Gianfranco Barone | United States |
| 23 | DF | Dominick Falanga | United States |
| 24 | MF | Mattia Cella | Italy |
| 25 | MF | Giuseppe Barone | United States |
| 26 | MF | Charlie Ledula | England |
| 27 | DF | Andrew Lubahn | United States |
| 28 | MF | Vincenzo Candela | Colombia |
| 31 | GK | Kevin Tenjo | United States |
| 32 | DF | Konrad Plewa | Poland |

### Coaching staff

| Name | Position |
| - | - |
| Carlos Mendes | Head coach and general manager |
| Janine Guarriello | Team administrator |

## Transfers

### In

| No. | Pos. | Player | Transferred from | Fee/notes | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 14 | MF | Danny Szetela | New York Cosmos B | Team captain | February 3, 2020 |
| 4 | DF | Emanuele Sembroni | New York Cosmos B | | February 11, 2020 |
| 20 | FW | Darwin Espinal | New York Cosmos B | Loaned out for 2020 NISA Spring Season, all loans terminated on March 24, 2020 | February 18, 2020 |
| 5 | DF | Matt Lewis | New York Cosmos B | Loaned out for 2020 NISA Spring Season, all loans terminated on March 24, 2020 | February 20, 2020 |
| 17 | MF | Salvatore Barone | New York Cosmos B | Loaned out for 2020 NISA Spring Season, all loans terminated on March 24, 2020 | February 20, 2020 |
| 16 | FW | Isaac Acuña | New York Cosmos B | Loaned out for 2020 NISA Spring Season, all loans terminated on March 24, 2020 | February 28, 2020 |
| 32 | DF | Konrad Plewa | Real Monarchs | | March 10, 2020 |
| 24 | GK | Santiago Castaño | New York Cosmos B | | May 29, 2020 |
| 1 | GK | Jesse Corke | New York Cosmos B | | May 29, 2020 |
| 3 | DF | Pedro Galvão | New York Cosmos B | | May 29, 2020 |
| 13 | DF | Ansi Agolli | New York Cosmos B | | May 29, 2020 |
| 15 | FW | Shavon John-Brown | New York Cosmos B | | May 29, 2020 |
| 28 | MF | Vincenzo Candela | Charleston Battery | | June 8, 2020 |
| 7 | FW | Bljedi Bardic | New York Cosmos B | | June 26, 2020 |
| 11 | FW | Aly Hassan | New York Cosmos B | | July 2, 2020 |
| 26 | MF | Charlie Ledula | New York Cosmos B | | July 2, 2020 |
| 8 | FW | Geo Alves | Brockton FC United | | July 10, 2020 |
| 23 | DF | Dominick Falanga | New York Cosmos B | | July 10, 2020 |
| 21 | FW | John Devis | Columbia University | | July 16, 2020 |
| 6 | MF | CJ Weinstein | Sacred Heart University | | July 16, 2020 |
| 25 | FW | Giuseppe Barone | Milwaukee Torrent | | July 23, 2020 |
| 24 | MF | Mattia Cella | Caldwell University | | July 23, 2020 |
| 12 | GK | Steward Ceus | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | | July 24, 2020 |
| 31 | GK | Kevin Tenjo | Milwaukee Torrent | | July 24, 2020 |
| 27 | DF | Andrew Lubahn | Loudoun United FC | | July 27, 2020 |
| 2 | DF | Armando Guarnera | New York Cosmos B | | August 11, 2020 |
| 22 | GK | Gianfranco Barone | Milwaukee Torrent | | August 11, 2020 |

### Out

| No. | Pos. | Player | Transferred to | Fee/notes | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 24 | GK | Santiago Castaño | Unattached | Contract terminated | July 24, 2020 |
| 4 | DF | Emanuele Sembroni | Unattached | Contract terminated | August 24, 2020 |
| 7 | FW | Bljedi Bardic | New Amsterdam FC | Free transfer | January 15, 2021 |
| 1 | GK | Jesse Corke | New Amsterdam FC | Free transfer | March 2, 2021 |
| 14 | MF | Danny Szetela | Morris Elite SC | Free transfer | March 16, 2021 |

### Loan out

| No. | Pos. | Player | Loaned to | Fee/notes | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 20 | FW | Darwin Espinal | Oakland Roots SC | For 2020 NISA Spring Season, loan terminated on March 5, 2020 | February 18, 2020 |
| 5 | DF | Matt Lewis | Detroit City FC | For 2020 NISA Spring Season, loans terminated on March 24, 2020 | February 20, 2020 |
| 17 | MF | Salvatore Barone | Detroit City FC | For 2020 NISA Spring Season, loans terminated on March 24, 2020 | February 20, 2020 |
| 16 | FW | Isaac Acuña | Detroit City FC | For 2020 NISA Spring Season, loans terminated on March 24, 2020 | February 28, 2020 |
| 20 | FW | Darwin Espinal | Detroit City FC | For 2020 NISA Spring Season, loans terminated on March 24, 2020 | March 11, 2020 |

## Competitions

### NISA Independent Cup

The Cosmos were announced as one of the four NISA teams taking part in the inaugural NISA Independent Cup on July 1. The regional tournament is set to act as both a pre-season and chance to "provide a platform for professional and amateur independent clubs to play together on a national stage."

New York was drawn into the Mid-Atlantic Region alongside fellow NISA expansion side New Amsterdam FC, Fall 2019 UPSL champion Maryland Bobcats FC, and NPSL side FC Baltimore Christos.

On July 24, NISA announced that the Mid-Atlantic Region tournament was postponed due to a surge of COVID-19 cases in Maryland and the subsequent closing of the Maryland SoccerPlex to professional sports. On July 28, NISA announced a majority of the region's games would be played at Evergreen Sportsplex in Leesburg, Virginia with the sole exception being the Cosmos opening match against New Amsterdam on August 2, which was played at Hudson Sports Complex in Warwick, New York.

**Standings**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Maryland Bobcats FC (C) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 5 |
| 2 | FC Baltimore Christos | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 5 |
| 3 | New York Cosmos | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | New Amsterdam FC | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 1 |

### NISA Fall Season

On June 4, NISA announced that details for the 2020 Fall Season. The nine member teams would be split into conferences, Eastern and Western, with the Cosmos playing in the former. The team is set to play eight regular season games against the rest of the eastern teams.

Details for the Fall regular season were announced on July 31, 2020. The Cosmos will take part as a member of the Eastern Conference.

**Standings**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Chattanooga FC | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 9 |
| 2 | Michigan Stars FC | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 8 |
| 3 | New York Cosmos | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 5 |
| 4 | Detroit City FC | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 |
| 5 | New Amsterdam FC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 | −11 | 0 |

**Results summary**

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |

Last updated: September 12, 2020. Source: Match reports

### Fall Playoffs

All eight NISA teams qualified for the 2020 Fall tournament, which will be hosted at Keyworth Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, beginning on September 21 ending with the final on October 2. The New York Cosmos were drawn into Group B of the two group tournament. Going into their final match, the Cosmos needed to win by five or more goals to advance to the Fall Semi-Finals. They failed to do so, and were eliminated when they lost 2 - 1.

**Group stage**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Los Angeles Force | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | Advance to semifinals |
| 2 | Chattanooga FC | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 5 | Advance to semifinals |
| 3 | California United Strikers FC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 4 | |
| 4 | New York Cosmos | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 1 | |

### NISA Spring Season

On January 29, 2021, the Cosmos announced that the team would be pausing operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### U.S. Open Cup

The Cosmos went on hiatus prior to the U.S. Open Cup draw.

## Squad statistics

    As of Match played September 28, 2020

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Fall Season | Fall Season | Fall Playoffs | Fall Playoffs | Spring Season | Spring Season | U.S. Open Cup | U.S. Open Cup |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | USA | Jesse Corke | 6 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | USA | Armando Guarnera | 1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | USA | Pedro Galvão | 6 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | USA | Matt Lewis | 7 | 1 | 3+1 | 1 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 8 | FW | CPV | Geo Alves | 5 | 1 | 1+2 | 1 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | USA | Aly Hassan | 6 | 1 | 0+3 | 1 | 1+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 13 | DF | ALB | Ansi Agolli | 6 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | USA | Danny Szetela | 6 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | GRN | Shavon John-Brown | 7 | 1 | 4+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | MEX | Isaac Acuña | 4 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | USA | Salvatore Barone | 3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | HON | Darwin Espinal | 5 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | USA | John Denis | 3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | USA | Dominick Falanga | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | ITA | Mattia Cella | 7 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | USA | Giuseppe Barone | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Charlie Ledula | 4 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | USA | Andrew Lubahn | 4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | COL | Vincenzo Candela | 3 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 31 | GK | USA | Kevin Tenjo | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 32 | DF | POL | Konrad Plewa | 7 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for the New York Cosmos who are no longer at the club: ||||||||||||||
| 4 | DF | ITA | Emanuele Sembroni | 2 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | MNE | Bljedi Bardic | 6 | 2 | 3+1 | 2 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |

### Goal scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Number | Name | Fall Season | Fall Playoffs | Spring Season | U.S. Open Cup | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | FW | | 7 | Bljedi Bardic | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | DF | | 5 | Matt Lewis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | FW | | 8 | Geo Alves | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | FW | | 11 | Aly Hassan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | FW | | 15 | Shavon John-Brown | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Position | Name | Fall Season | Fall Season | Fall Playoffs | Fall Playoffs | Spring Season | Spring Season | U.S. Open Cup | U.S. Open Cup | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | DF | Emanuele Sembroni | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | FW | Bljedi Bardic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Aly Hassan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | DF | Ansi Agolli | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Danny Szetela | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | Isaac Acuña | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | Mattia Cella | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | Giuseppe Barone | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | Charlie Ledula | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | | TOTALS | 10 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
