(NASL 2013 Fall) Carolina Railhawks 3v0 New York Cosmos

Saturday 17th August 2013
WakeMed Soccer Park, North Carolina   Attendance -  4,096

The New York Cosmos suffered their first defeat in a miserable night in Carolina, where  defensive lapses and ill discipline cost them dearly.

Cosmos started brightly, but the home side took the lead after just 8mins after a devastating counter attack.

Shipalane evaded the attention of Nane to put Schilawski through on goal. Schilawski's touch was too heavy, but he had the presence of mind to slip the ball to Shriver, who had the simple task of putting the ball into the net.

But Cosmos were controlling the game and keeping the ball for long periods, and went close with efforts from Ayoze and Guenzatti in an attempt to level the scores.

But another lapse in concentration at the back led to another Carolina goal as a loose pass in the Cosmos defence let in Shriver, who needed no second invitation and took the ball round Reynish before rolling the ball into the unguarded net, making it 2v0, with the home sides only 2 shots on target in the half.

There had been a flurry of yellow cards early on, and within the space of 2 minutes both sides were reduced to 10 men as Nane for Cosmos and seconds later Da Luz for Carolina both were dismissed, as they picked up their 2nd yellow cards of the evening.

The second half took on the same pattern as the first half, with Cosmos having the better of play and forcing several corners, but the Railhawks back line barely put a foot wrong all night, and the Cosmos were unable to convert possession into clear cut chances.

The flow of the game was constantly interrupted with free kicks and more yellow cards, and as the game wore on Cosmos at last started to apply some pressure, but apart from a save from an Ayoze free kick, Fitzgerald in goal for the RailHawks was untroubled as the final ball from the visitors was often poor.

Carolina had hardly threatened in the 2nd half, but unbelievably went further ahead, after another defensive catastrophe, when Gorskie misjudged a long ball and upended Elizondo for a penalty, which Ackley converted in the 89th minute.

There was still time for more misery for the Cosmos, as Guenzatti was shown a red card for a frustrated hack at an opponent, and was quickly followed by the Cosmos Coach, who was ordered to leave the touchline, in a night the Cosmos will want to put behind them as soon as possible.