NEW YORK COSMOS B

Saturday 14th September 2019 Mitchel Athletic Complex, New York   Attendance -  Cosmos came close to a breakthrough within seconds of kick off as a great delivery by Agolli found Acuna whose header needed a save from the Michigan keeper to prevent an early goal. Agolli was looking dangerous early down the Cosmos left and the Michigan goal came under threat mid-way through the half with long range efforts from Burgos, Szetela and Acuna. It was no surprise where the breakthrough came from as Agolli curled the ball into the box and Acuna timed his run to perfection to diver the ball into the net. The same 2 combined soon after with another fine Agolli ball finding Acuna, this time the striker got his finish all wrong to let Michigan off the hook. Cosmos continued to press forward and Burgos did well to twist and turn his marker to create some space before testing the Michigan keeper who made the save. A swift attack saw Agolli burst through s oon after, but again t...

Saturday 7th August 2019 Mitchel Athletic Complex, New York   Attendance -  Napa Valley proved unexpectedly tricky opposition as Cosmos endured a frustrating evening, eventually recording a 1v0 win against their West Coast opponents. A second half goal was enough to get the win, although Cosmos had to navigate most of the second half with just 10 men after Sembroni was sent off. Napa Valley came to New York not having scored a goal and conceded an average of 4 goals a game in their Members Cup campaign, so a straightforward win was expected. From the outset Napa Valley ensured they had virtually everyone camped out deep in their own half, meaning New York would have plenty of the ball but found space at a premium inside the Napa Valley half. Despite this New York carved out a series of half chances, from a far post header, a Kevin Venegas drive from just outside the box and a Junior Burgos effort, all of which went off target.  The best chanc...

Saturday 31st August 2019 Ultimate Soccer Arena, Pontiac, Michigan   Attendance -  Cosmos returned to the top of the Members Cup table following a 2v0 victory over Michigan Stars. It was the first appearance in an indoor facility for the Cosmos since the reboot and 2 goals and a clean sheet was enough to earn the 3 points. Cosmos dominated possession in the first half but rarely troubled the Michigan goal early on, with the only thing of note being a speculative long range effort after 15mins which went wide. Without showing any real impressive play themselves Michigan managed to fashion the more dangerous moments of the first half. Early in the game an overhit cross had to be tipped over by the Cosmos keeper Castano and Castano had to be sharp to clear an underhit backpass shortly after. Later in the half a shot flashed dangerously across the Cosmos goal after a goalmouth scramble. Cosmos improved as the half wore on and Espinal finally tested the Michigan keepe...

Saturday 17th August 2019 Mitchel Athletic Complex, New York   Attendance -  Milwaukee stunned the Cosmos with 2 late late goals to snatch an undeserved draw at Mitchel Field. Cosmos Coach Carlos made some changes for the visit of Milwaukee with Danny Szetela and Blanchette having rare appearances on the bench. Attempting to keep the Cosmos from scoring was former Cosmos keeper Tenjo and Aaron Dennis stung his hands twice early as on Cosmos made the early running. Milwaukee survived the early pressure as the game descended into a midfield tussle with little action at either end. Towards the end of the half Cosmos went close with an effort from Galvao and Al Hassan almost got a vital touch to a ball fizzed across Tenjo's goal. At the other end Castano in the Cosmos goal was rarely troubled as the half ended 0v0. If the first half was lacking in action the second half made up for it.  Cosmos almost took the lead seconds into the 2nd half after Tenjo slipped ...

Saturday 10th August 2019  Finlay Stadium, Chattanooga   Attendance - 3,500 A trademark Junior Burgos free-kick was enough to edge Chattanooga in the opening fixture of the NPSL Member Cup. The competition had undergone some turmoil with some teams pulling out of the competition, but New York were glad to get back in action following defeat in the NPSL Final only a week prior. Cosmos lined up with much of the side that played in the final, less Bocanegra who had left the side to join Charlotte Independence. The home side settled the best, but after 10mins New York should have taken the lead. The Chattanooga keeper made a good save as a well worked move cut the home sides defence open, but Cosmos looked set to conver the rebound, but unbelievably Al Hassan managed to miss the target despite the unguarded goal gaping in front of him, albeit Hassan had to stretch to get to the ball. Chattanooga went close themselves from a well taken free-kick from Sanchez whic...

Sunday 3rd August 2019 Mitchel Athletic Complex, New York   Attendance -  Miami FC retained their NPSL crown following a 3v1 victory against the Cosmos in the NPSL final. Danny Szetela the popular Cosmos captain was the culprit as Miami raced into an early 2 goal lead thanks to 2 errors by the Cosmos man. New York quickly pulled it back to 2v1, but could not find the equaliser and at the death Miami added a third. Miami threatend after just 3mins when Martinez flashed a low cross across the Cosmos goal which almost caught out the Cosmos keeper who came out to anticipate the cross, but then left his near post unguarded and the cross narrowly went wide of the unguarded goal, saving the Cosmos keeper much embarrassment.  Both these former NASL sides were going toe to toe in the early stages looking for the breakthrough, but it was the away side that struck first. It came via the high pressing game of Miami, Cosmos surrended the ball in defence as as Szetela was...

Sunday 27th July 2019 Mitchel Athletic Complex, New York   Attendance -  New York booked a place in the NPSL final after seeing off San Diego 2v0. San Diego had won 3 away games to reach the semi-final, but the Cosmos proved a step too far with 2 second half goals enough to see off the West Coast side. Cosmos struck early in the previous round and almost did so again as Acuna latched onto a left wing cross after just 6mins, but the effort was narrowly off target. But that proved to be the best chance of a cagey half. San Diego made sure they always had numbers behind the ball and defended well restricting Cosmos to a handful of half chances, none of which overly troubled the San Diego keeper. Equally at the other end Blanchette was rarely called into action as San Diego posed little threat. Cosmos started the 2nd half well and Acuna went close with a header that went off the outside of the post. But Cosmos wouldn't be denied and seconds later made the breakthrou...

Sunday 21st July 2019 Mitchel Athletic Complex, New York   Attendance -  Cosmos clinched the Northeast Title and moved into the semi-finals of the NPSL Championship after a 3v1 win over the Mid-Atlantic Champions Baltimore in a game which saw 3 red cards. Baltimore made a sluggish start to the game and Cosmos wasted no time in capitalising striking early after just 4mins when the Baltimore keeper could only parry a shot from Burgos and Acuna was on hand to tap in from close range. Cosmos were dominating play and Acuna went close on 2 more occasions as Baltimore remained camped inside their own half.  Baltimore showed signs of improvement as the half wore on, but Espinal should have doubled New York's lead late in the half after miscuing an effort with the Baltimore goal gaping. Burgos went through soon after and after some good work shot weakly at the Baltimore keeper. With Baltimore looking to see out the half and regroup they grabbed an unlikely eq...

Wednesday 10th July 2019 Mitchel Athletic Complex, New York   Attendance -  It took a wonder strike from Albanian Fullback Ansi Agolli to separate Cosmos and the Brooklyn Italians in this clash for the North Atlantic Title. These 2 sides have a history of close battles in recent years and this was no different as Cosmos edged another close encounter. The home side started strong and it took a big save from the Brooklyn keeper Ashton to deny Bocanegra after just 61 seconds to prevent Cosmos taking an early lead. Cosmos blitzed Brooklyn with a series of early goals in a match earlier in the season, but despite a few early efforts on goal Brooklyn managed to remain on level terms.  Ashton made a one handed save from former Brooklyn man Barone in the 7th minute. Bardic had a long range effort stopped later in the half and Acuna had a header saved as the half drew to a close. But it was far from one way traffic as Brooklyn had their moments and the match becam...

Saturday 6th June 2019 Mitchel Athletic Complex, New York   Attendance - Cosmos ended the regular season in style blitzing Kingston Stockade 6v0 to clinch the no.1 seed and guarantee home advantage throughout the playoffs. Since losing to the Cosmos in their opening match of the season, Stockade had only lost one match, but were no match for a rampant Cosmos side. Apart from some early dangerous counter attacks from Stockade it was all Cosmos in the early stages and it was obvious that a breakthrough was imminent as Cosmos swarmed all over Stockade. But the scorer of the goal was a surprise, with Sembroni opening the scoring as the Cosmos defender stayed up front following a set piece and as the ball was crossed into the area he rose unchallenged to head in. That 28th minute goal opened the floodgates and from the restart sloppy play from Stockade led to a Cosmos corner and the Italian powered in to head a second goal. Another quickfire double strike just ...

Wednesday 3rd June 2019 Mitchel Athletic Complex, New York   Attendance - With the playoff places already decided there was little at stake as Cosmos locked horns with the Brooklyn Italians again, but the Italians ended a 23 game winning run in the NPSL regular season as the 2 teams fought a scoreless draw. Both sides had chances to win the game but even with Cosmos fielding another new signing Naeem Charles the home side could not get on the scoresheet. With Brooklyn having wrapped up 2nd place in the conference the 2 sides  will meet again in the first round of the playoffs where there will have to be a victor.

Sunday 30th June 2019 Mitchel Athletic Complex, New York   Attendance -  Cosmos clinched the North Atlantic Title with 2 games to spare following a 2v0 win over Rhode Island. The margin of victory should have been more, but Cosmos missed 2 second half penalties. New signing Isaac Acuna has hit the ground running for his new side as he scored twice on his first start. Acuna got his first goal after just 15mins as he was on hand to nod in from a rebound when a n effort from Ansi Agolli rattled the Rhode Island crossbar. The same player added a second with another header before half time to give Cosmos a comfortable lead at the interval. There was no further additions to the scoreline in the second half due to Cosmos' failure to convert from the spot. Bocanegra's penalty struck the post early in the second half and Acuna did not fare any better as he squandered a golden chance of a hat-trick as he had a spot kick saved after a handball in the area. But with ...

Sunday 23rd June 2019 Mitchel Athletic Complex, New York   Attendance -  New York Cosmos eased to another comfortable victory over Greater Lowell to move to within 3 games of a perfect record in the North Atlantic Conference. Cosmos thrashed the same opposition 7v1 a matter of weeks ago and within the opening minutes it looked likely that it would be another one sided encounter. Cosmos had already gone close before Bocanegra fired Cosmos ahead after a well drilled shot into the corner of the net that left the opposition keeper rooted to the spot. It was soon 2v0 as a piece of quick play caught the Diamonds sleeping. A long throw in allowed Bocanegra to get into a crossing position and he found Bardic who made no mistake with the finish. The Diamonds defence was opened up again just shy of the half hour mark as a long ball sent Cosmos through but the Diamonds keeper prevented a 3rd goal. Diamonds survived another scare soon after when a Cosmos effort found the n...

Sunday 16th June 2019 Johnston High School, Rhode Island   Attendance -  New York Cosmos clinched a place in the playoffs with 4 games to spare after a routine win on the road against Rhode Island Reds. Cosmos were always in control and after leading 2v0 in the first half went into cruise control to ease to victory.  Cosmos made a bright start to the game and rewarded with an early goal thanks to a great curling effort by Bardic. Cosmos were having joy in an open start to the game and had some threatening attacks on the home sides defence. New York were enjoying plenty of possession and doubled the lead from a corner kick. The Reds keeper did not deal with the set piece and Lewis bundled the ball over the line.There was little coming the other way from an outclassed opposition although Blanchett had to be quickly off his line to snuff out a ball played to Gill after the Reds won the ball in the Cosmos half. The second half saw the home side raise their g...

Saturday 15th June 2019 Hormel Stadium, Boston   Attendance -  A brace from Bocanegra helped Cosmos to extend their 100% record in the NPSL with a 3v1 win in Boston against the Lions of Boston City. Boston had only recorded 1 win in 10 games so far, but had made some new additions to the squad, 3 of which made the starting line up. Added to the fact that Cosmos faced another match 24hrs later forcing Cosmos into making several changes to the line up meant that the match was closer than may have been expected. Cosmos lost Al Hassan early on to injury, but with Cosmos still temporarily down to 10 men they took the lead with less than 15mins on the clock when a Bocanegra effort deflected off Boston's Tomasso D'Agostino and into the net. The goal came from a long throw-in into the Boston area which the Lions failed to deal with. The lead did not last long however as Boston equalised with their first dangerous attack when a long ball caught the Cosmos defence flat-fo...

Saturday 8th June 2019 Metropolitan Oval, New York   Attendance -  The only 2 unbeaten sides left in the Division went head to head in New York and the Cosmos came out victorious thanks to a flying start that saw the Cosmos effectively end the game in the first 20mins after racing to a 3v0 lead. Bardic did most of the damage scoring 2 of the early goals and completed a hat-trick before half time before Brooklyn managed a late consolation. It took just 4mins for Cosmos to open the scoring as Bardic converted a rebound from a Ansi Agolli shot. Al Hassan doubled the lead less than 10mins later and it got worse for the home side when Bardic made it 3v0 after 18mins. Bardic claimed a hat-trick on the hour mark to complete a barely believable 4v0 half time score against a side who usually provide stern opposition. The home side did find the net in the 84th minute, but it was merely a footnote on an evening that puts Cosmos into a clear lead in the Division. ...