(NASL 2015 Spring) New York Cosmos 3v0 San Antonio Scorpions

Saturday 23rd May 2015
Hofstra University, New York   Attendance -  5,032

Cosmos took a step closer to the Spring Championship with a 3v0 win over San Antonio and in doing so ended a 4 game losing streak against the Texas side.

The scoreline slightly flattered Cosmos, but they deserved the win with a solid if unspectacular performance against the reigning NASL Champions.

Scorpions had started the season slowly but were showing signs of last seasons form and it was a competitive start to the game as both teams had chances to score early on. The Cosmos fired a ball dangerously across the face of the Scorpions goal, but no-one could get the vital touch to give the Cosmos an early lead. At the other end  Castillo came close for the Scorpions with a free kick that Jimmy Maurer had to turn round the post in the opening exchanges.

But the Cosmos took the lead in the 17th minute following the award of a penalty. The Scorpions failed to deal with a short corner and Lucky had his shirt tugged by former Cosmos midfielder Nane as he shaped to shoot, an infringement spotted by the referee.

With no Marcos Senna playing, Raul took up penalty taking duties and tucked the ball away. Restrepo should have made it 2v0 following a well worked move down the left. Lucky could only get a slight touch to Ayoze's cross, but it fell to an unmarked Restrepo at the far post, but the former San Antonio man lashed the ball wildly off target to let the Texas side off. 

There was a lack of clear chances for the majority of the 2nd half as Cosmos stayed solid, but as the game wore on  the game opened up.

In the 77th minute the Cosmos breathed a sigh of relief when after a goalmouth scramble the ball fell into the arms of Maurer and 3mins later Forbes fired a dangerous ball across the Cosmos goal, but there was no-one on hand to apply the finishing touch.

But Cosmos ensured they would get he 3pts when Roversio headed in from a free kick for his first goal for the club. Salt was rubbed into the wounds when Cosmos added a third in the 86th minute as Cosmos ruthlessly exposed gaps in the San Antonio defence.

Lucky got on the end of a Raul cross, but the ball was going off target until Fernandes intervened and he diverted the ball in. It could have been worse as Restrepo unleashed a well struck volley in the 90th minute, but Scorpions keeper Daryl Sattler pulled off a great save to prevent further damage.