(NASL 2016 Fall) Jacksonville Armada 2v4 New York Cosmos

Saturday 15th October 2016

Community First Park, Jacksonville   Attendance 3,044

New York wrapped up the Fall season title and first seed in the Championship following a dramatic comeback in Jacksonville. After leading 1v0 at half time, the home side turned things around to lead with just 11mins remaining, only for Cosmos to blitz the home side with 3 goals.

Jimmy Maurer had to be on his toes early on to stop a deflected cross from creeping in at the near post after Ayoze  inadvertently directed the ball towards goal. At the other end Roversio marked another comeback with a good effort after a short corner, forcing Gallardo to go low to his right to pull off a save.

In an open start to the game the action was going end to end and shortly after Maurer had to come out of his box to thwart an attack, but the loose ball fell to Lagerblom who tried an ambitious effort with Maurer out of his goal, but there was no danger of a goal as the ball drifted over.

Cosmos made the breakthrough on 23mins with a tap in from Orozco. Arango was allowed too much room in the midfield and picked out the run of Arrieta. The Cosmos man's shot was saved, but Orozco was following up to apply the finish and put Cosmos ahead.

After the goal Cosmos looked comfortable and a glancing header from Flores just before half time could have put Cosmos further ahead at the half, although a long range effort from Jerome had Maurer diving to his right at the other end.

Jacksonville improved in the 2nd half and Cosmos were lucky to escape punishment when Maurer came charging out of his area to stop Steinberger from going through. The Armada man got to the ball first and appeared to be fouled by the Cosmos keeper, only for the referee to wave away appeals from the home side.

But the Armada drew level after Keita outmuscled his marker and struck the ball firmly past Maurer.

Cosmos went on the offensive to try and regain the lead but it was Jacksonville who struck with only 11mins remaining after Cosmos coughed up the ball in their own half. Keita's shot from outside the area was saved by Maurer but Steinberger was quickest to the rebound and fired it into the roof of the net to send the Armada players into celebrations.

But the home side's celebrations were short lived as Cosmos equalised straight away. New York won a free-kick on the edge of the area and Arango's free-kick was deflected onto the bar and bounced marginally over the line and out again. Jacksonville were furious with the decision, but replays suggest that the correct decision was made.

It got worse for Armada as a still furious Keita was shown a 2nd yellow for kicking the ball away, reducing the home side to 10 men. Jacksonville were losing their cool and conceded another free-kick on the edge of the area and Arango delivered a fantastic trademark free-kick to put the Cosmos ahead in a remarkable turnaround. 

Cosmos weren't finished yet and Arrieta rubbed salt into the Armada wounds by scoring a 4th. Substitute Szetela won the ball in the Armada half and the ball fell to Arrieta who drilled an effort from outside the area into the net. Still the action wasn't over with virtually the last kick of the game Armada hit the bar during a goalmouth scramble in the Cosmos box.