(NASL 2014 Fall) New York Cosmos 1v3 San Antonio Scorpions

Sunday 12th July 2014
Hofstra University, New York   Attendance -  3,806

Cosmos lost their Spring season opener to an impressive Scorpions side who recorded a 2nd consecutive victory at Shuart Stadium, still the only visiting side to have recorded a win there.

The Scorpions entered the game on the back of a perfect 4-0 record on the road in the Fall season and started the fame in a positive fashion dominating possession against the Cosmos, who normally enjoy the lions share of the ball at home.

The Cosmos did managed to gain their fair share of the ball as the half wore on, but there way little in the way of goalmouth action at either end, with Dimitrov looking like a player short on playing time and Stokkelien looking subdued. The Cosmos were missing Senna, Ockford, Noselli, Dennissen and Roversio from the starting line up and it showed as the Cosmos lacked their usual intensity.

Scorpions went ahead just before half time when Maurer crashed into Castillo as he rushed out to try and claim a ball from Restrepo to the Scorpions player. Castillo picked himself up to convert the penalty with Maurer close to saving the effort.

It got worse for the Cosmos in stoppage time a Castillo struck again. Zahorski forced Hunter Gorskie into a mistake and San Antonio were awarded a free kick which was wonderfully converted by Castillo into the top corner of the goal.

The game was seemingly set up for the Cosmos to pile the pressure on for an equaliser, but in truth the visitors looked more dangerous.

The home side were back in the game 10mins into the 2nd half with a free-kick of their own, with Freeman finding the back of the net with a beautifully flighted strike. San Antonio almost regained their 2 goal lead straight away, with Freeman involved at the other end, blocking a goalbound effort. Cosmos survived another scare when Ayoze's ill advised back pass was intercepted, with the ball rolling agonisingly just past the post from Restrepo from the visitors perspective.

San Antonio got the goal they deserved when Maurer was caught in no mans land when Toray received a through ball and lifted the ball over the Cosmos Keeper to restore the 2 goal cushion. Guenzatti tried to reduce the deficit flashing an effort across goal from close range after a nice piece of skill. But Cosmos never looked like getting anything out of the game and it could have been worse as Forbes fired wide after being put through late on.

But apart from a save from a Stokkelien header deep into stoppage time, the visitors lead was never in danger as the Cosmos made a less than auspicious start to the Fall season.