Saturday 7th November 2015
MCU Park, New York Attendance - 5,061
A
2nd half strike from Raul ensured he and Marcos Senna would end their careers
in the Soccerbowl following a come from behind 2v1 victory over Fort Lauderdale
Strikers in the Championship semi finals.
Cosmos
opened the door for the Strikers to reach the playoffs with a 2v0 win over
Florida rivals Tampa Bay the previous week, but their assistance ended there as
they ended Striker hopes of lifting the Soccerbowl.
Following
a cagey start Raul had the first real chance of the game as he intercepted a
loose Striker pass deep in their own half. But the Spanish striker failed to
make the best of the opportunity as he fired straight at the keeper.
But
it was the Strikers who drew first blood when PC drilled shot through Ayoze's legs and just inside
Maurer's far post to put the away side ahead.
Cosmos
had failed to threaten the Strikers goal since going behind and almost went 2v0
down as PC took advantage of some sloppy play in the New York defence, but this
time his well struck effort was turned round the post after a good save from
Maurer.
With
the Cosmos attack struggling, they needed a break and got one on 37mins to
level the scores. Cosmos won a free kick on the left hand side and although
Senna's dipping free kick was never likely to beat Meves in the Striker goal,
the goalkeeper could only palm the ball into a crowd of players. The ball was
palmed straight onto the legs of Gaston Cellerino and the ball rebounded back
into the net for the equaliser.
The
Cosmos striker had struggled for goals since his move to New York, but he had
an opportunity to get another goal after a suicidal pass from Fort Lauderdale
was latched onto, but his effort went off target.
In
the 2nd half Cosmos continued to get their chances as a result of defensive
errors by the away team as Cellerino caught Gray in possession and only a last
ditch tackle from the Fort Lauderdale player saved a one on one with the
keeper.
Just
after the hour mark Cosmos took the lead through Raul. The midfielder made a
perfectly timed run and got on the end of a deflected pass from the right hand
side. His run split the defence open and he tucked the ball away past Meves to
give the home side the lead.
New
York should have been awarded a penalty soon after when Cellerino was caught
chest height by a boot from an opposing player, only for the referee to
amazingly wave away appeals for a spot kick.
Even
with golden boot winner Stefano Pinho in attack Fort Lauderdale struggled to
create anything of note and it was the Cosmos who came closest to scoring the
next goal as Senna was denied by Meves after good work from the excellent Raul
down the left wing.
The
Strikers did manage to get the ball into the net in the 89th minute, only to
have the effort ruled out for a marginal offside call.
But
the Cosmos saw out the remaining minutes to clinch their Soccerbowl place
against Fall season champions Ottawa Fury.
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