(NASL 2013 Fall) New York Cosmos 4v0 Carolina Railhawks

Sunday 13th October 2013
Hofstra University, New York   Attendance -  5,409

The Cosmos took a step closer to the Soccerbowl after gaining revenge on the Carolina Railhawks for their only loss of the season earlier in the campaign. Carolina needed a win to keep their hopes of a Soccerbowl appearance alive, but gave a limp display as they were completely overwhelmed by a rampant Cosmos side.

The RailHawks came into the game with a horrendous away record, without a single victory on the road in 2013, while the Cosmos were looking to continue their long unbeaten run.

But it was the visitors who had the first opportunity of the match, when Ackley found space behind a Cosmos defence that looked like they were still in the dressing room, but with more time than he realised, his extravagant effort went well off target, in what would turn out to be their only effort of the half.

It did not take long for the Cosmos take control and in the 8th minute, Szetela got on the end of a low Diaz cross to give the Cosmos an early lead.

RailHawks Keeper Fitzgerald was called into action again as he palmed away a Senna Free Kick, and had to react sharply to prevent the rebound from being converted.

Cosmos were pressing Carolina hard, to the extent that the visitors were having trouble getting out of their own half.

The second half followed a similar pattern as Guenzatti tested Fitzgerald early in the 2nd half, but it wasn't long before the New York doubled their lead. The RailHawks failed to deal with a long Hunter Freeman throw in and Diaz darted in at the far post to lash the ball into the Carolina net.

At last Carolina were sparked into action and Reynish was forced into making a save after New York left an opponent unmarked at the far post.

But there was little indication of a RailHawks comeback, and the visitors were only inches from going further behind when Dimitrov, still awaiting his first goal of the season, struck the bar with a fantastic long range effort, with Fitzgerald well beaten.

The introduction of Alessandro Noselli proved fatal for the Railhawks, as within seconds of coming onto the pitch he was upended in the area by Kalungi, forcing the Referee to award  a penalty.

Senna extended the Cosmos lead from the spot at the 2nd attempt, after his initial successful penalty was ruled out for encroachment.

It could have been worse for the RailHawks, as minutes later, Ayoze almost embarrassed Fitzgerald when his corner curled over the Keeper and onto the bar, but Noselli and the Cosmos were not quite finished yet, as the substitute slammed the ball in the RailHawks net for the 4th time, following good work by Dimitrov.