(NASL 2015) Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3v3 New York Cosmos

Saturday 8th August 2015
Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale   Attendance -  5,667

Cardiac Cosmos once again showed amazing powered of recovery, coming back from 3v0 down to rescue a point at Lockhart Stadium.

Cosmos had beaten a below par Strikers a week previously,  and with the Strikers picking up 3 red cards midweek there were hopes that New York could pick up a rare away victory.

But the Strikers came out flying and created enough chances in the first half to kill the game off, with several coming in the opening minutes of the game.

Gabriel and PC both had efforts in the opening minutes, the latter requiring Maurer to fling himself to his left to palm wide. A minute later and the Strikers should have been ahead as Bruno weaved his way through the Cosmos defence, but he held onto the ball too long and the ball was cleared to safety.

The Cosmos goal was coming under siege as Ramirez struck the post from the resulting corner with Maurer well beaten. Cosmos finally settled down and created a couple of chances to open the scoring themselves as Szetela latched onto a cross, but could not keep his header on target and Haji Wright  was denied by a last ditch challenge as he was winding up to unleash an effort.

But it was the Strikers who took the lead after they were awarded a soft penalty. Walter Ramirez made the most of a challenge from former Striker Restrepo and the ref pointed to the spot. Gabriel stepped up to drive the ball past Maurer to put the home side ahead.

Strikers should have doubled their lead as they squandered another chance after a mistake from Danny Szetela deep in his own half. PC robbed the ball off the Cosmos midfielder, but did not hold his nerve with the 1 on 1 with Maurer and shot straight at the Keeper.

PC was almost in again as a poor defensive header back to Maurer let the Brazilian in, but he was just unable to get to the ball as it bounced into the hands of Maurer.

The Cosmos fell further behind early in the 2nd half after another penalty decision went against the visitors. Ayoze was adjudged to have fouled PC as a cross came in from the left wing  and Ramirez stepped up.

The penalty hit the post, but luck was against the Cosmos as the rebound went in off Maurer. The goal stung Cosmos into action and Moffat was introduced to the action in place of Szetela. Raul tried to reduce the deficit as he created a shooting chance from a tight angle, but his shot went well over.

But Strikers were still a threat and Freitas almost produced a wonder goal as he dribbled past the Cosmos defence before attempting to chip Maurer from long distance, but the Cosmos keeper was able to keep the effort out.

It would get worse for Cosmos as Ramirez made it 3v0 after a great piece of individual skill. He burst clear of the Cosmos backline, shrugging off Moffat and took the ball round Maurer before slotting into the net. It seemed as if Fort Lauderdale would finally register their first victory over NY in the modern era, but the visitors were about to mount an unlikely comeback.

The Strikers had only just stopped celebrating when Cosmos pulled a goal back from Leo Fernandes who nodded in a right wing cross to give Cosmos a lifeline. Minutes later and Caceres almost pulled another back, but his header from a free kick came back off the bar.

All the good work from the home side was in danger of unravelling as Cosmos made it 3v2. Moffat won a challenge on the edge of the area and produced a great curling effort past Ford to bring the Cosmos to within 1 goal.

Cosmos went in search for an equaliser, but Fort Lauderdale managed to steady the ship, although Ford had to tip a long range Moffat effort past the post. The Cosmos probed away for the remainder of the game, but it looked as though the Fort Lauderdale defence would hold out, until they were finally undone in stoppage time.

Moffat's cross was expertly knocked back by Freeman to the feet of Guenzatti who converted for the equaliser. Cosmos almost snatched a last gasp winner as Fernandes had the ball in the net with the last kick of the game, only for the ref to rule the effort out.