When the Mid-Atlantic Region of the NISA Independent Cup resumes Thursday night, the Cosmos and New Amsterdam FC face must-win situations in their respective matches.

All four teams enter Game Day Two of the competition with 0-0-1 records after playing to a pair of 1-1 draw on Sunday night.

New Amsterdam faces Maryland at 6:45 p.m. before the Cosmos meet FC Baltimore Christos at 8:45 p.m. in Leesburg, Va.

On the final day on Sunday, New Amsterdam plays FC Baltimore at 5:45 p.m. while the Cosmos takes on Maryland at 7:45 p.m.

Last Sunday, Maryland Bobcats FC and FC Baltimore Christos played to a 1-1 draw. Tunde Akinlotsu gave FC Baltimore Christos a 28th-minute lead before Kay Banjo knotted things up, converting a penalty kick in the 84th minute.

Several hours earlier, the Cosmos and FC Amsterdam also finished with a 1-1 deadlock at the Hudson Sports Complex in Warwick, N.Y. Ansi Agolli scored off a fine free kick in the first half before former Lansdowne Bhoys standout Michael Bello found the net only 16 seconds into stoppage time for New Amsterdam’s first goal and first points in a stunning finish.

The Cosmos kick off their National Independent Soccer Association fall season against the Michigan Stars at Mitchel Athletic Complex on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m.

New Amsterdam will welcome the Cosmos for its home opener in Warwick on Friday, Aug. 21.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.