Sunday 8th June 2014
Hofstra University, New York Attendance - 6,495
Cosmos were hoping to celebrate the Spring Championship after this game, but following Minnesota's win the day before, the match just had 3pts at stake.
Noselli got the only goal of the match after only 6mins with the first real chance of the game. It was an inch perfect delivery from Stokkelien from the right win that fell into the path of Noselli, who only had to deliver simple finish to give the Cosmos the lead.
Cosmos had control of the game, but a poor final ball too often let them down, it took a sure from Ockford to finally test the Ottawa Keeper as the big defender won possession and unleashed a long range effort that had to be tipped over.
A defensive slip just before half time gave Chirishian an opening as he raced towards goal, but a cynical trip by Beckie upended the speedy winger, with the Ottawa player escaping with a yellow card due to the presence of covering defenders.
With memories of letting a lead slip against the other expansion side fresh in the memory the Cosmos started the 2nd half strongly, and Ockford missed an opportunity as he failed to connect with a dangerous free kick just yards from the Ottawa goal.
With nothing coming from the visitors in attack, if there was going to be a goal it was going to come from the home side and Stokkelien wasted a chance after good work from Szetela in the box in a rare moment of action.
The same combination linked up again on 70mins as Szetela wriggled free of the Ottawa midfield with some great play and sent Stokkelien on goal, but the striker dwelled too long and the chance went.
Hans Denissen was introduced to events late on and soon made a neat lay off for Guenzatti, but the Ottawa Keeper was quick to smother the danger.
Not for the first time Stokkelien squandered a chance to put the game away, after being brilliantly put through he took the ball round the Keeper, only to blaze the ball horribly off target with his left foot.
Cosmos did have the ball in the net seconds later, Dennisen found Guenzatti, whose shot was dragged wide, but Noselli was following in to tap the ball in, only to be denied by the offside flag.
In the closing minutes Ottawa went in search of an unlikely equaliser and almost got it when a long ball into the area fell to Drew Beckie, but Maurer came to the home sides rescue with a brave stop from close range.
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