(Fr) Sacremento Republic 1v3 New York Cosmos

Saturday 28th February 2015
Hughes Stadium, Sacremento, California   Attendance -  20,231

Cosmos completed their mini tour of California with a victory against USL Champions Sacramento Republic in front of a sell out crowd of 20,231.

Sacramento had the better chances of the first half and threatened to take the lead on 12mins. After a slick move Gonzalez skipped past Jimmy Maurer, but the Cosmos defence rushing back managed to prevent the Sacramento player getting a shot on goal. The home side came close again on 26mins and Jimmy Maurer had to make a good save from a near post header from Justin Braun to prevent the home side going ahead.

Sacramento continued to press, Guzman fired a shot narrowly over as half time approached and shortly after Adam Gabeljic came close to giving the home fans a goal to cheer.

Sacramento made a number of changes at half time, but the second half started with neither side able to carve out a clear cut opportunity, but the deadlock was finally broken on 68mins. Senna sent a free kick deep into the Sacramento area. Caceres did well to keep the ball from going out and hook the ball back across goal. The cross found Raul who had the simple job of heading into the net for his first goal from open play for the Cosmos.

Raul had an effort saved by Sacramento Keeper McLain, but 3mins later McLain could only partially stop a whipped in cross from the left and Fernandes was on hand to nod in the rebound to make it 2v0.

Cosmos added a third after Flores latched onto an ill judged pass deep in their own half from the home side. Flores produced  neat finish to put clear daylight between the 2 sides.

It could have been worse for the Californian side as in the 86th minute Mads Stokkelien won a penalty after he was upended in the area after good work, only to see his spot kick saved. Sacramento finally got on the scoresheet in the 89th minute with a goal from substitute Joaquin Rivas. Cosmos lost the ball in their own half and Rivas produced a great curling effort from outside the box past Holt to get a consolation for the USL Champions.