NEW AMSTERDAM FC v NEW YORK COSMOS, Friday, August 21th @ 6PM ET (Hudson Sports Complex, Warwick NY)

For all the slick marketing and eye-catching branding, New Amsterdam FC have not exactly matched that on the field. A draw and a defeat in the Independent Cup, followed by the quick ending of the Eric Wynalda era, and now the sprint of a Fall NISA season starting with a date with Cosmos. And while a new coach may not be on the horizon, NAFC did sign some additional players this week. Bronx native Zaire Bartley who was playing for Forward Madison in USL League One last year now has a chance to play forward for a club close to home.

Cosmos liked the ‘give-up-a-goal-late-to-drop-two-points’ scenario so much from the Independent Cup that they let Michigan Stars have a go at it last week. Now with their first league match against their new local rival, one would think that Cosmos will do anything and everything not to blow yet another lead late. What would help would be more goals, and it will be interesting to see who Cosmos have playing up front. Will Isaac Acuna and Aly Hassan be available, and will Darwin Espinal show up?

MICHIGAN STARS FC v DETROIT CITY FC, Saturday, August 22nd @ 7PM ET (Ultimate Soccer Arenas Outdoor Stadium, Pontiac MI)

No Nuel, no problem for Michigan Stars last week as the club pulled out a draw late against the New York Cosmos on the road without their forward Kyle Nuel who had suffered an injury during the week. Confidence must be at an all-time high for this club, and just in time for a showdown with Detroit City FC. Will Nuel be back on the field to provide that offensive spark, or will the Stars have to rely solely on the high press to get DCFC to make that fatal mistake?

Speaking of pressing, it was the commitment to the press and defense that led Chattanooga to its 2-0 win over DCFC last week. La Rouge looked downright frustrated at its inability to create scoring chances, and now they face another opponent who lives to press. What kind of adjustments (if any) will coach Trevor James employ to get the offense cooking? Too many of the DCFC players up front were quiet last week.

Rivalries are best formed on the field of play, not by marketing schemes. Detroit City does not as of yet acknowledge the Stars as a rival. Would a Stars win on Saturday begin to change that? Rivals or not, expect some level of chippiness between these two clubs.

- John Howard-Fusco