Saturday 14th June 2014
Hofstra University, New York Attendance - 9,364
The long awaited clash with City rivals Red Bulls ended in surprisingly one sided encounter as the Cosmos mauled the MLS Red Bulls. The US Cup has often seen MLS sides field 2nd string players, but the Red Bulls fielded their best available Midfield and Attack, albeit missing Tim Cahill, Dax McCarty, Thierry Henry, Roy Miller and Jamison Olave for different reasons. Cosmos themselves were missing talisman Marcos Senna, not that you would have noticed given the Cosmos superiority over the MLS side.
Cosmos took the lead with the first chance of the game when a defensive breakdown led to a long Carlos Mendes ball finding Mads Stokkelien in space, clear of the Red Bulls defence.
The striker was faced with a tight angle, but smashed the ball into the top corner to give Cosmos a lead after only 7mins. The game was hyped up by the Cosmos beforehand, and it was obvious what this game means to the NASL side as they were working hard all over the pitch not allowing the MLS side to settle into the game.
The Cosmos were on the front foot and Guenzatti fashioned an opportunity to double the lead, only to be denied by a great save from Red Bulls Keeper Meara.
The Cosmos were first to every ball and forced a series of corners and free-kicks, on 2mins one of those free-kicks almost led to a 2nd goal as Mendes crashed the ball against the crossbar from close range. Towards the end of the 1st half the Red Bulls had a good spell and managed to a save from Jimmy Maurer in the Cosmos goal, but in the closing minutes Cosmos again went close, firstly after Red Bulls were forced into losing possession Stokkelien found Noselli who headed over, and then Stokkelien brilliantly found Guenzatti, who under pressure squandered a great chance by shooting wide.
The Red Bulls were somehow still in the game, having only conceded just the one goal and made a substitution and tactical reshuffle in the 2nd half to try and turn the game around. But the change made little difference as the home side continued to dominate and Noselli fluffed his shot on the hour mark after a well worked move found the Italian with more space than he perhaps realised.
Meara made a fingertip save from Guenzatti to keep his side in the game with 18mins remaining, but the reprieve did not last long as Cosmos doubled their lead, and it was Stokkelien who again found the net with another clinical finish.
The Red Bulls defence were stretched after a Cosmos counter attack and Szetela found Stokkelien in acres of space and the striker produced a great controlled volley past Meara to put the game beyond the Red Bulls. The Cosmos were not letting up and Noselli made it 3 shortly after a great lay off from Stokkelien, who menaced the Red Bulls defence all game long. The Italian wriggled free of the Red Bulls defence and slotted the ball past Meara for the third goal.
The same combination linked up later on in the game as Stokkelien dispossessed a Red Bulls player and crossed for Noselli, but this time Noselli could not guide the effort on target. In the closing moments of the game Red Bulls misery was complete when Duval received his marching orders after a horrible late challenge.
After the game the Red Bulls dismissed the game, stating the game meant more to the Cosmos than it did to the MLS side, but for now the Cosmos can lay claim to the best side in the City.
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