(NPSL 2018 North Atlantic SF) New York Cosmos B 4v2 Elm City Express (aet)

Wednesday 11th July 2018
Hofstra University, New York    Attendance - 

Cosmos advanced to the North Atlantic Conference Semi Finals following a tough victory over Elm City Express. Elm City were reigning champions, but only just scraped into the playoffs and had been well beaten 5v0 by the Cosmos just weeks earlier.
But the Express were a much tougher prospect in this match and took an early lead after just 15mins. Express forward Asante was allowed too much room in the area and his effort struck the post, only for Tyler Carlos to be on hand to slot into an unguarded goal.
Cosmos were seeing plenty of the ball but were struggling to create anything against an organised Elm City side who were looking increasingly dangerous on the counter attack,
But Cosmos managed to get on level terms through Bardic as Elm City failed to deal with a cross to the far post and Bardic kept his cool scoring with a fine finish in the 29th minute, the first Cosmos shot at goal.
Cosmos took the lead in similar circumstances late in the first half when a Brown cross found its way to Bardic at the far post and again he drilled the ball into the Elm City net. But Elm City were far from finished and Tyler Carlos fired Elm City level just before the interval with a fine free-kick.
Cosmos were dealt a blow early in the 2nd half when Bardic was forced off through injury after picking up an injury. Elm City continued to be troubled with crosses into the box as Wojcik failed to make the most of a free header in the box that went over the bar. New York went in search of a winner in the 2nd half but it was Elm City who went the closest as a solo run from Sanchez saw him weave through the Cosmos defence, but Tenjo made a valuable stop.
Soon after Bartley was felled near the halfway line by the last defender as the Cosmos man threatened to break free, with the Elm City man lucky to only receive a yellow card. Elm City again went close to snatching a winner with less than 10mins remaining as Tyler Turner's first time effort hit the bar with Tenjo well beaten. Cosmos forced a series of corners as the game edged closer to extra time and Wojcik thought he had won it at the death as he headed in, only for the offside flag to come to Elm City's rescue.
The game moved into extra time and Cosmos continued to threaten and Bartley flashed a long range effort just wide. Bartley went close again at the end of the first period of extra time, forcing the Elm keeper into a smart save.
Cosmos were getting closer and the Elm keeper failed to collect a cross early in the 2nd half under pressure from Pittman, but Elm City cleared the ball as Wojcik looked to pounce on the loose ball.
With 10mins left of extra time the breakthrough finally came as Wojcik rose to head home a Neeskens cross to put Cosmos 3v2 ahead. Seconds later and the tie was over as Szetela found Bartley on the edge of the area who slotted the ball in to make it 4v2 to set up a meeting with Brooklyn Italians in the North Atlantic Final.