Saturday 18th September 2015
NSC Stadium, Minnesota Attendance 9,418
The
top 2 sides in the combined standings battled to a goalless draw extending
Minnesota's winless run over the Cosmos. Both sides created chances on goal,
but the goalkeepers of both sides put in brilliant performances to keep the game scoreless.
But
Minnesota can feel aggrieved not to come away with the 3 points after they had
2 goals incorrectly ruled out.
Cosmos
started the match strong and almost raced into an early lead as United keeper
Ndjock was forced to tip over a header from Lucky just seconds into the match.
The home side held out against the
bright start from the visitors and went close themselves when a header from
Pitchkolan went wide.
Both
sides were committed to attack and Minnesota caused panic in the Cosmos area
when a dangerous Kevin Venegas cross was whipped into the box, but the danger
passed after Ramirez was penalised for handball. The action went from end to end as Cosmos
wasted a good chance to take the lead when a well worked move ended in Restrepo blazing over from
inside the area.
Minnesota
ended the half the stronger of the 2 sides and the home side almost went ahead
after 35mins when a good pass sent Davis down the left wing and his cross was
only centimetres away from being touched in by Ramirez who was unmarked in
front of goal.
The
same 2 combined again before half time, this time Ramirez connected with the
cross, but he failed to get a decent connection and Maurer was able to make the
save.
The
2 sides continued to trade blows in the 2nd half with neither side capable of
delivering the knockout blow.
Ndjock
denied efforts from Raul and Flores that could easily have ended in the
Minnesota net, while Ramirez continued to be a thorn in the side of the Cosmos
and came close to breaking the deadlock on more than one occasion.
But
for in the last 25mins of the game it was the home side who pressed for a winner and should have got it,
only to have 2 'goals' incorrectly chalked off. A Venegas free kick was turned
in by Ibson, only for the referee to
incorrectly rule that the Minnesota player had handled the ball prior to
putting the ball into the net.
Seconds
later Ramirez slotted the ball past Maurer, but the offside flag ruled the
effort out, with replays showing he was marginally onside.
Undeterred
Minnesota continued to search for a goal that would earn a first ever win over the Cosmos and
fired an effort across the goal, but
wide of the target. Flores had a chance to snatch victory in he 81st minute,
but dragged a shot wide after a quickly taken free kick.
But
Vela had the best chance to produce a winner after he was played in by Ramirez,
only for Maurer to produce a fantastic stop from point blank range.
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