(NASL 2014 Fall) New York Cosmos 3v2 Atlanta Silverbacks

Saturday 13th September 2014
Hofstra University, New York   Attendance -  4,502

Danny Szetela hit a late winner to edge a tight contest with Atlanta and strengthen their bid for a playoff spot. Cosmos had raced into a 2 goal lead within 10mins, but the Silverbacks had fought back to level terms and threatened to snatch a winner before Szetela's goal.

Stokkelien opened the scoring after just 41 seconds, diverting a Hunter Gorskie cross into the net with a neat finish, and when Guenzatti converted an inch perfect cross, again from the right, this time from Diosa, it looked like being a straightforward evenings work for the SoccerBowl holders.

 Cosmos could have increased their lead when a blocked Senna free kick ended up at the feet of Guenzatti, but he could only produce a wild effort off target.

Silverbacks' suddenly woke up and Cosmos needed a goal line clearance from Carlos Mendes to maintain their 2 goal advantage after Chavez found himself onside 5 yards beyond the Cosmos defence. The Silverbacks man took the ball past Zobeck, only for the Cosmos captain to deny him. But the reprieve was only temporary, as the Cosmos defence was caught flat footed by a short corner and although Zobeck kept out Espinoza's header, he could not stop Sandoval from converting the rebound.

 It was a fairly even contest from that point on with chances at both ends. Szetela cam close after good work from Mwanga, while early in the second half Cosmos almost gifted Atlanta an equaliser when Chavez charged down a clearance by Zobeck after a sloppy back pass from Mendes.

 Mwanga spurned a chance to regain the 2 goal advantage with an unmarked header in the box, and Cosmos were punished soon after when Cruz pounced on a Goalkeeping error from Zobeck as he failed to hold onto a Roushandel free kick.

Atlanta looked the team more likely to snatch a winner and Chavez flashed  shot narrowly wide, but it was the home side who took the spoils when against the run of play Szetela found the bottom corner in the 84th minute after good work from Jemal Johnson.