Sunday 13th April 2014
Hofstra University, New York Attendance - 7,906
Cosmos may have been busy bolstering the forward line in the off season, but it was the Cosmos defenders who turned goalscorers as the Cosmos raced into a commanding 3v0 lead.
There were chances from the opening whistle, just seconds into the new season a long Hunter Freeman throw landed at the feet of a Cosmos player in the box, but a clean connection could not be made.
Silverbacks escaped another awkward moment soon after when Goalkeeper Derry Carrillo brought down a Cosmos player in the area, only for the Ref to wave away appeals for a penalty.
Atlanta finally settled down and their high pressing game seemed to be working, with Cosmos struggling to get any decent possession in the Silverbacks half.
Silverbacks were not only containing the home side, but were created chances, with Maurer struggling to cope with corners in windy conditions. Maurer misjudged a corner on 11mins, but Estrada could only fire the loose ball off target with Maurer in no mans land.
Silverbacks then created the best chance of the game so far when McCauley was played in one on one, but Maurer made a good stop to keep the game scoreless.
The breakthrough came on 23mins when Cosmos were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the Silverbacks box. Atlanta Keeper Carrillo misjudged the free kick and could only palm in front of goal, and Carlos Mendes was on hand to stab the ball in.
Cosmos took advantage of some more less than impressive defending from the away team to double the lead less than 10mins later. Guenzatti brushed aside the Silverbacks defender far too easily and his cut back found Stokkelien whose shot was blocked but Ayoze lashed the rebound past Carrillo for the second goal.
The Silverbacks were committing suicide at the back, and were at fault again as Cosmos made it 3v0 when Carlos Mendes was allowed to drift in unmarked into the box from a corner and poke the ball past Carrillo.
It could have been worse for the Silverbacks when Stokkelien played in Noselli, only for the Italian's soft finish to be saved by Carrillo.
3v0 down at half time Atlanta had to go for broke and switched to 3 at the back, and the switch initially proved successful as they created a host of chances early in the 2nd half. Maurer was called into action making saves from Estrada and substitute Chavez. Atlanta were in the ascendancy and Maurer was called upon again as Estrada caught Ayoze in two minds, but the Keeper prevented a Silverbacks goal.
A goal from the visitors looked likely, but Maurer kept out further efforts from Sandoval and the lively Chavez, and the Cosmos goal survived the period of pressure still intact.
Jemal Johnson was introduced to the action and sparked Cosmos back into life as they threatened to extend the lead with Guenzatti denied by the crossbar with a header from a corner.
New signing Stokkelien got his name on the scoresheet as he converted a header from a Guenzatti cross, and could have added another having an effort saved from a Johnson cross, and later in the game saw an effort rebound off the post from an acute angle after taking the ball past the Keeper.
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