(NASL 2013 Fall) Atlanta Silverbacks 0v1 New York Cosmos

Saturday 2nd November 2013

Atlanta Silverbacks Park, Atlanta   Attendance 5,000

The final match of the regular season threw up a preview of the Soccerbowl clash to be played at the same venue, just a week later.

But with little at stake it was no surprise to see both sides field much changed sides than the ones that will be taking the field the following week, making any conclusions from this game largely irrelevant to next weeks match.

Cosmos ran out 1v0 winners thanks to a 1st half Lopez strike, although Atlanta created and wasted enough chances to run out winners as their poor run of form continued leading up to the big clash.

Cosmos had a complete side of 2nd string players, while Atlanta fielded only a small number of players expected to make the starting line up in the Soccerbowl, although there will be concerns over defender Martyn Lancaster, who picked up an injury and left on crutches.

Given the much changed line ups, it was no surprise to see the first half lacking in goalmouth action, as neither side could fashion much in the way of clear cut opportunities.

Silverbacks Horace James looked the liveliest of the forwards on display, and he had the first sight on goal as he shot wide from a tight angle.

Martyn Lancaster's surprise inclusion in the match, given that he was only one booking away from missing next weeks clash did not appear to pay off as he hobbled off the pitch, and it got worse for the home side as they fell behind from Cosmos' first real attach of note on 34mins.

Lopez collected the ball in the area from a pass from Kashiwase, and in the same motion swivelled to produce a fine finish past Mizell in the Silverbacks goal.

Cosmos had been virtually anonymous in attack prior to that, with Silverbacks only slightly better, although they did threaten again just before half time as Gulley broke free down the wing, but with the angle too tight he had to cut the ball back to James, whose effort was blocked as the Cosmos defence regrouped to prevent an equaliser.

It had been pretty half hearted stuff in the first half, but the action picked up in the 2nd half as Atlanta created numerous chances on the visitors goal.

James forced former Silverbacks Keeper Maurer into a save to deny his former side, and the home side went close with a header from the resulting corner.

Suddenly the chances were coming thick and fast for the home side as Gulley broke free of the Cosmos 2nd string defence twice in a matter of minutes, both times producing less than convincing finishes as Maurer came to his sides rescue.

Maurer was in action again soon after as he saved from a near post header, although Cosmos came close to grabbing an unlikely second when Chirishian nipped in at pace to prod the ball past Mizell, only to have the goal ruled out for offside.

But it was at the other end where the chances were being produced, with Chris Rodd almost diverting a cross into his own net, and substitute Stisser firing wide over after Gulley profited from  defensive error.

But the Cosmos goal survived as they made sure they gained an element of a psychological victory over their opponents in advance of their Soccerbowl clash.