Cosmos Look Towards First US Open Cup Game on Wednesday

A 1-1 draw is not the worst way for the Cosmos to enter Wendesday's US Open Cup match with the Brooklyn Italians, but it probably isn't the way want to go into the game either.

Wednesday's game will be the first Open Cup match the Cosmos play and a win would mean a head to head matchup against the MLS's New York Red Bulls. However, the match against the Brooklyn Italians comes at an inconvenient time for the Cosmos, who will now have to play three games in seven days.

It may not sound like a harrowing task, but with the Cosmos in a tight spot trying to win a spring playoff birth the midweek contest makes things a lot harder. New York sits three points out of first place with two NASL matches remaining in the spring season, meaning the Cosmos need to win both to have a chance at the playoff birth.

Despite the tougher situation, the Cosmos players understand the situation is something they can not change.

"I mean thats how it is," Sebastian Guenzatti said about the quick turnaround. "We're gonna play on wednesday like we always do. We're going to come out strong on Wednesday and maybe get payback from today."

Goal Keeper Jimmy Maurer added: "The schedule is the schedule. We just deal with what comes to us and we have a game wednesday. So now we prepare for that."

The midweek game also changes the way the team will prepare. Cosmos Head Coach Giovanni Savarese said that giving the proper rest will be key with the time between matches being shorter.

"Rest will be as important as practice," Savarese said. "We have to see now what the players are feeling. The guys that played tonight, who's feeling ok. I mean we don't have too much time to rest, but we have other guys who just played a few minutes and others who didn't play. So we just have to balance out...but we're taking it very seriously."

The big question going into Wednesday's US Open Cup Match will be whether or not Marcos Senna will be available to play. The Cosmos star left Saturday's draw in the second half with a groin injury. After the game Senna told reporters "at this point I don't feel so well." He will be evaluated on Sunday.