(NPSL 2018) Rhode Island Reds 2v4 New York Cosmos B

Saturday 2nd June 2018
Mayor Joseph M. Polise Stadium, Rhode Island,   Attendance -

Cosmos saw off Rhode Island Reds mainly thanks to 3 goals in the opening 20minutes, eventually recording a 4v2 win. It didn't take long for Cosmos B to take the lead when the visiting side were awarded a penalty in the opening minutes. The game had yet to develop a rhythm when the Reds keeper made a charge out of his goal to intercept a Cosmos ball, but only succeeded in taking out Bardic on the edge of the area.

Szetela stepped up to take the penalty to make it 1v0 Cosmos.

The goal seemed to settle the Cosmos down into their usual stride and began to dominate possession. A clinical strike by Bardic doubled the lead soon after as he was fed in from Espinal on the right wing and delivered a clean effort into the Reds net.

The Reds tried to respond and created two dangerous attacks, the first came after a slip from Garcia which allowed Reds to counter attack and a low cross from the right evaded Tenjo in the Cosmos goal, but a defender was on hand to see the danger away. The second saw Red's Ronaldinho go through on goal but the Cosmos keeper did well to produce a save. Inbetween those efforts Cosmos almost made it 3 as Barone was put through but a collision with the keeper left the Reds man on the floor and from the resulting loose ball a shot went inches wide.

But the Reds momentum was quashed by a third Cosmos goal as Espinal managed to hold off a couple of challenges on the edge of the Reds box and delivered another accurate strike into the net to make it 3v0 just past the 15min mark. Cosmos were in full flow now and after a series of slick passes Bardic found the net with a great half volley from outside the area, only for the effort to be ruled offside.

It was looking too easy for the Cosmos as Barone skipped through a couple of challenges in the area to get through on goal, but faced with a tight angle the keeper managed to stop the effort. Cosmos continued ot create opportunities as the Reds continually gave the ball away in their own half, although at least they were managing to stop the tide of goals going in.

At the other end another counter attack from Ronaldinho gave the Reds defence some rest, but again he was stopped by the Cosmos keeper. But most of the action continued at the other end as a great Neeskens cross to the far post was almost converted with a Reds defender clearing off the line to keep it at 3v0.

Soon after Bardic should have made it 4v0 after the Reds turned over possession in their own half and Cosmos played the ball into the Cosmos man in front of goal, but his effort was blocked as another chance was squandered.

Cosmos continued to dominate in the 2nd half and a flick from a near post corner was tipped onto the bar and cleared for another corner, but it was only a temporary reprieve as Penzini headed in from the resulting corner.

Cosmos continued to create chances but a series of saves from the Reds keeper prevented any additions to the Cosmos scoreline.

Cosmos made some substitutions and the Reds seemed to creep more into the game and Ronaldinho almost capitalised on a mix up in the Cosmos defence when a shot rolled agonizingly wide for the home side seeking their opening goal.

Reds finally got on the scoresheet after a mistake from the Tenjo after he delayed a clearance too long which was blocked and the loose ball fell straight to Austin Lind who made no mistake with just 7mins remaining.

The Reds forced a series of corners in the games dying minutes and gave the scoreline a flattering look when they forced a second goal. A ball was played into the box and Zarokostas headed past Tenjo.