(Fr) South China 2v2 New York Cosmos (2v4 on pens)

Thursday 19th February 2015
Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong   Attendance -  19,522

The Cosmos lifted the Lunar New Year AET Cup after a dramatic victory over South China in their first Pre Season encounter. Despite dominating possession the Cosmos had to twice come from behind to force the game to a penalty shoot out, with the Cosmos 2nd equaliser coming in the 88th minute.

South China almost took an early lead with a curling effort that required Jimmy Maurer to use every inch of his frame to tip round the post, although the Cosmos soon settled down and Raul showed early glimpses of linking up with his new team mates as he played in Ayoze who forced the South China Keeper into a near post save.

Cosmos were enjoying the majority of the ball, but were undone on 19mins after a calamity at the back.

Ayoze was well beaten by the dangerous Mahama Awal, although it looked as if NY had snuffed out the danger, only for more sloppy defending to allow the ball to roll to a South China player yards from goal.

It looked as if the Cosmos goal had survived again as the effort struck the inside of the post and rolled across the goal, only for the rebound to be converted by Chan Siu Ki to give the home side the lead.

Whilst the Cosmos defence was struggling, it was better news at the other end and they didn't take long to draw level.

Guenzatti was involved in the build up play and he met Gorskie's cross with an acrobatic volley to equalise with a spectacular effort, worthy of a greater stage than a pre season friendly. But although South China did not see that much of the ball they were looking the more dangerous on the counter attack as Ayoze was having a torrid time, as Awal raced down the wing, causing panic in the Cosmos defence.

However Cosmos could have gone in at half time ahead as 2 set pieces forced the South China Keeper into saves, both from his own players, who inadvertently diverted the ball goalwards.

For the whole of the 2nd half Cosmos pinned South China deep in their own half, but a lack of  cutting edge allowed the home side to stay on level terms.

The Cosmos were punished for not taking advantage of their domination, and predictably it was Awal who delivered the sucker punch. He raced clear again, and after the Cosmos defence failed to clear the danger he fired the ball past Maurer to give the home side an undeserved lead.

Cosmos went in search of a 2nd equaliser and Raul had a chance as he got his head to a cross in front of the keeper, but could not keep the effort down as the ball looped well over. It looked as if the spoils would go to South China, only for Flores to equalise with 2mins remaining of normal time.

His shot from the left wing took a deflection and looped over the South China Keeper and into the net. Cosmos went in search of a winner, but it would take a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. 2 saves from the first 3 penalties put Cosmos in  strong position, with Raul, Flores and Freeman all successful with their efforts.

A miss from Walter Restrepo proved irrelevant as fellow debutant Moffat converted the 5th penalty to give the Cosmos the silverware in Hong Kong.