(NPSL 2018) Boston City 0v4 New York Cosmos B

Sunday 29th April 2018
Maiden Catholic High School, Massachusetts,   Attendance -

It had been a very difficult off season for the New York Cosmos, with only one side competing in the 2018 season, the B side in the NPSL. But the B side lifted spirits with a convincing win in Boston to give the campaign a good start.

Cosmos looked a cut above their opponents from the early stages and following a short corner Joe Sanchez fired a low ball across the Boston 6 yard box and Penzini was in hand to convert from close range. Boston were struggling to get anything going in attack as the Cosmos defence were dominant. Cosmos were continuing to move the ball around quickly, although chances on goal were not in abundance. But when the Cosmos did create opportunities they were despatched clinically and former Tampa Bay Rowdie Darwin Espinal doubled the Cosmos lead on 18mins.

Bardic profited from a miscued clearance from Boston and he sent over a cross which was met at the far post by Espinal whose header sneaked inside the post. Robinson in the Cosmos goal had been a virtual spectator up this point but a poor kick out gave Boston a chance to threaten the Cosmos goal, but a weak shot from long range saw the opportunity go awry.

Cosmos almost made it 3v0 soon after as Barrajo progressed down the right wing after exchanging passes and his inch perfect cross found Sanchez whose header was denied by a great save from former Europa League keeper Dronkers. But at the other end Robinson made another error as he hesitated on the ball allowing Jimenez to get a shot on goal with the keeper in no mans land, but the ball hot the outside of the post as Cosmos survived. Boston had a good spell but could not get a goal to bring them back into the game as Robinson made amends for his earlier error by making a stop at the feet of Jimenez as Cosmos rode out the spell of pressure from the home side.

Towards the end of the half Cosmos looked for a third and Dronkers denied Bardic a goal with a good save at his near post, but the reprieve was only temporary as soon after Szetela drove a loose ball into the net with a well struck effort from outside the area to kill off any hopes of a Boston comeback.

Cosmos  had several opportunities with Wojick in particular wasteful, although he did hit the post with one effort from a counter attack. Sanchez had an effort cleared off the line as New York continued their dominance into the 2nd half.

Espinal finally made it 4v0 as he clotted home well from outside the area as the ball ran invitingly after a corner was only partially cleared. The Cosmos did not let up as they had another chance to add a 5th with Dronkers doing well to prevent more damage.