Wednesday 17th June 2015
Hofstra University, New York Attendance - 11,446
Cosmos
won the first ever East River Derby in dramatic fashion via a penalty shoot-out
over NYC FC. The NASL side had come back from 2v0 down in normal time to force
extra time, with the equaliser coming in typical Cosmos last gasp fashion in
the 90th minute.
After
a tight start the MLS side took the lead after a great improvised effort from
Poku. A great ball from Diskerud found Poku, who had got goal side of Ayoze.
Ayoze managed to get a foot to the ball, but Poku produced an athletic volley
to put his side ahead.
The
visitors went further ahead just before the hour mark. Cosmos appealed for
offside as Poku was played in again. The call looked marginal, but the flag
stayed down and Poku produced another clinical finish as he smashed the ball
into the Cosmos net.
Cosmos
needed a response and got one through substitute Leo Fernandes. The
Philadelphia Union loanee had only just been introduced when he produced a deft
flick into the corner of the net from a Freeman cross.
Cosmos
pushed for an equaliser, but failed to create a clear cut opportunity. The next
best chance fell to the MLS side as Maurer was forced into a save from Mullins
after more good work from Poku.
City
were presented with another chance to kill the tie in the 83rd minute when Poku
put Ballouchy through with acres of space. But Maurer won the 1 on 1 duel and
kept his side in the game.
As
the game approached the 90th minute the Cosmos were applying pressure to the
NYC goal, but it looked as though the MLS side would hold out. But as they so
often do Cosmos managed a goal when they most needed it.
Again
it came from a drilled Freeman cross, this time it was Lucky who was the
recipient, taking a touch before quickly firing into the net to force extra
time.
The
visitors also had to do without the services of Poku who had been substituted
in the closing minutes of normal time.
Cosmos
almost took the lead in the 2nd minute of extra time as Lucky hit the post with
Restrepo firing wildly over from the rebound. Minutes later and it was City
with a chance to go ahead as Mullins curled an effort that went wide of
Maurer's post. It was end to end stuff as the play then switched to the other
end as Lucky was gifted the ball by a NYC player in a dangerous position, but
his shot was palmed away.
The
action was relentless and NYC were handed a golden chance to regain their lead
when they were awarded a penalty. Freeman was adjudged to have pulled down
Jacobsen, although there was contact, it looked a soft award by the referee.
But
justice was served when Alvarez struck the penalty against the bar to keep the
scores level.
Moffat
picked up an injury in the 2nd half, but with all 3 substitutes used he was
forced to stay on the pitch. It almost proved disastrous as Mullins sped away
from a hobbling Moffat on goal, but again Maurer made the save.
It
would need penalties to separate the 2 sides and just like the 120mins before
it, the penalties were full of drama.
City's
Grabavoy was first to miss from the spot after his effort was saved, but Cosmos
failed to take advantage when Freeman had his effort saved with the next kick.
City went 2v1 ahead after Ballouchy scored and Fernandes fired over with the
next set of kicks. After a set of successful penalties, Mullins had a chance to
win it for City, only for Maurer to make a vital stop. Moffat levelled matters
next to take it to sudden death.
After
Maurer pulled off yet another save from Facey, it was fittingly left to New
Jersey native Hunter Gorskie to score the winning penalty. He duly obliged to
trigger scenes of delirium among crowd and players alike.
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