(Fr) New York Cosmos 2v0 Valencia

Saturday 22nd July 2017
New Mosaic Stadium, Saskatchewan, Canada   Attendance -  

Cosmos stunned Valencia, beating the La Liga side 2v0 in an exhibition game held in . Valencia fielded a young lineup with many first team players missing while New York fielded a strong side, with Zobeck replacing Maurer on a one game loan to FC Dallas and Cosmos B player Hawkins making an appearance.

The Spanish side dominated possession in the early stages but in the 10th minute New York threatened when Vranjican headed wide from a Calvillo cross.

New York continued to threaten and Flores almost capitalised on a loose pass deep in the Valencia half, but his effort was blocked and the rebound was blazed over by Guerra. Cosmos gradually started to impose themselves and see more of the ball as Valencia were finding it hard to play their way through a determined Cosmos side.

The Spanish side rarely threatened the Cosmos goal, although they did have a brief opportunity around the half hour mark when Cosmos gave the ball away in their own half but Simone Zaza dragged his shot wide of goal.

Starikov came desperately close to breaking the deadlock on 39mins as he was played in and his shot struck the underside of the bar before the Valencia keeper managed to bat it away for a corner kick.

Valencia improved noticeably in the 2nd half and within a minute of the restart had their best chance of the game as Rafa Mir burst through the heart of the Cosmos defence too easily leaving Hawkins trailing, but Zobeck stood up well to stop the effort. Seconds later and Mir was in again as he brilliantly took down a long ball in stride, but the finish was poor.

But it was Cosmos who took the lead after a good move down the left wing saw Starikov pull a low ball across the box. The ball ran through to an unmarked Calvillo who drilled the ball into the Valencia net.

The La Liga side continued to press and Zobeck did well to palm away a far post header from Abdennour following a free-kick.

There had been little of Cosmos as an attacking force in the 2nd half, but when they did come forward they were lethal and added a second with 13mins remaining. Richter delivered a great cross from the right and although Starikov was denied by a save by the keeper, Ledesma was on hand to fire the rebound into the net to double the Cosmos lead.

That goal ended any hopes the La Liga side had of avoiding a defeat as Cosmos stayed strong with Ochieng and Zobeck particularly excellent.