(US Open Cup 2015) New York Cosmos 3v0 Jersey Express

Wednesday 27th May 2015
Belson Stadium, New York   Attendance -  1,394

On a day where NASL sides were dropping like flies in the US Open Cup the Cosmos progressed to the 4th round after a comfortable victory against Jersey Express, a side from the 4th tier of US Soccer. The victory sets up  mouth watering clash with New York City FC in the 4th round.

After a slow start the Cosmos took the lead when Leo Fernandes scored from a free kick after 14mins. Even with a side on mainly fringe 1st team players and  sprinkling of starters the Cosmos were too strong for the Express.

But the majority of the game had a training  match feel to it as New York barely got out of first gear. Marcos Senna was one of the few first team starters on show and he was involved in most of the chances in the first half. He had a shot  saved by the keeper on 24mins after the visitors lost the ball in their own half.

Later in the half he sent over a dangerous cross which required a defensive header to avert the danger.

As the half wore on the Cosmos were starting to apply more pressure. Stokkelien had been quiet, but he unleashed a well stuck effort that whizzed past the post, but a minute later the Cosmos doubled their lead.

The ball was played to Guenzatti on the right hand side of the pitch. A run by Hunter Freeman drew the defender away from him and he took advantage as he cut inside and fired  the ball through the Express Keeper to make it 2v0.

 Cosmos came out strong in the 2nd half, but Express held firm and remained in the tie. Senna again went close as his curling effort went narrowly off target. Having failed to put the tie away the visitors had a short good spell and Maurer was required to hold onto an effort to maintain a clean sheet.

The introduction of US U-21 International Haji Wright led to the third goal as he won a penalty within seconds of coming on, with Stokkelien converting from the spot. Jersey's N'guessen received a red card for the foul, reducing the visitors to 10 men for the remaining part of the match.

The only blot on an otherwise straightforward victory occurred in stoppage time when Caceres received a red card. The Cosmos defence switched off after a long kick from the Jersey Keeper and Caceres received  2nd yellow card for fouling the Jersey player as he went through on goal. Caceres is now ruled out for the clash with New York City in the next round.