(NPSL 2019 National Final) New York Cosmos B 1v3 Miami FC




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 pressured into giving the ball away and Miami quickly pounced on the turnover as the ball was worked to Dylan Mares who slotted the ball in. 
It got worse for Cosmos and Szetela as he was ambushed again in his own half and again turned the ball over. Mares carried the ball towards goal and curled in a fine second for Miami. Cosmos soon got themselves back in the game when a free-kick by Agolli found it's way through a crowd and into the net to halve the deficit.
Within seconds of the restart Miami almost regained their 2 goal advantage, but squandered a great opportunity after cutting open the Cosmos defence. But soon after the Cosmos were threatening at the other end as Miami desperately cleared their lines after a dangerous attack from the home side.
Chances continued to come at both ends. Espinal weaved his way past his defender and it needed the Miami keeper to save a goalbound effort with his legs and seconds later Dylan Mares rattled the bar with a fierce drive. Just before half time Acuna came close to levelling it with a header that went narrowly wide. 
The action continued in the 2nd half as Miami went inches from going 3v1 up as Lloyd Sam curled a brilliant effort onto the post just seconds after the restart. Cosmos went close themselves soon after as Espinal chipped a ball over the Miami defence and Acuna went close from a tight angle.
Bardic was brought on for the Cosmos and he should have equalised midway through the half after being put clan through but with just the keeper to beat he skewed his effort wide.
With 5mins left another substitute went close as an Al Hassan header from an Agolli cross was just tipped over and seconds later Hassan went close again after the ball was pumped into the Miami box.
With Cosmos throwing men forward at the death Miami had chances on the break and Szetela threw his body in the way of a goalbound effort. But it was ultimately to no avail as Miami scored a 3rd goal at the death through late sub Shawn Chinn after the Cosmos keeper was rounded well out of his box.





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