(NASL 2013 Fall) New York Cosmos 1v1 Atlanta Silverbacks

Saturday 7th September 2013
Hofstra University, New York   Attendance -  5,598

Cosmos' stuttering season continued after dropping their first home points of the season following a 1v1 draw with Spring Season Winners Atlanta Silverbacks. Again the Cosmos let their opponents level the scores after taking the lead, however unlike their previous matches at home, the Cosmos were unable to grab a late winner.

Atlanta's high pressing game unsettled Cosmos, who struggled to get their passing game going, and struggled to create clear chances on goal, although may feel they created enough to get the victory.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors down the Cosmos right wing. The ball was played beyond Freeman, who was out of position, although there still seemed little danger, until Stisser attempted an audacious lob which looped over Reynish, only to be denied by the Cosmos post.

But just before the half hour mark the game started to open up as Cosmos began to finally create some efforts on goal.

Chirishian had a shot which flashed past the post, but shortly after Cosmos had an even better chance to open the scoring. It came from a break following a Silverbacks attack when Reynish had denied Stisser. Cosmos broke quickly and the ball was played to Guenzatti who had a clear run at goal and also Dimitrov in support.

Guenzatti elected to shoot, but Silverbacks Keeper Nasco managed to get a hand to the effort, and the ball spun agonisingly away from Dimitrov, who would have had a simple tap in.

But just before half time Cosmos took the lead after being awarded a penalty. Carlos Mendes struck the bar with a header from a corner, and Dimitrov was adjudged to have been fouled from the rebound.

Senna stepped up to convert the penalty to put the Cosmos ahead at the half.

But any momentum Cosmos were hoping to build on evaporated after just 4mins of the second half when the Silverbacks fashioned an equaliser.

It was a soft goal from the home sides perspective, as Moroney was allowed an unchallenged header from Pablo Cruz's free kick, giving Reynish no chance.

Atlanta may have been struggling to recapture their form of the Spring season, but their defence remains their strong point, having not conceded more than 1 goal in any game since 22nd June, so the Cosmos were up against it to maintain their 100% home record.

For most of the half, there was little to get excited about as constant fouls prevented any sort of flow to the game. Cosmos did create 2 chances of note, Chirishian could not control his volley at the far post from a deep accurate Hunter Freeman cross, and a better chance fell to Kashiwase, who was denied by another good save by Nasco following a mistake by Lancaster whose poor header almost let the Japanese player in.

But the Silverbacks saw out the final minutes without too much concern despite the late dismissal of Pedro Mendes after picking up his 2nd yellow card of the game.