(NASL 2016 Fall) New York Cosmos 0v0 FC Edmonton

Saturday 17th September 2016
Hofstra University, New York   Attendance -  3,723

Cosmos were held scoreless by a typically robust defensive Edmonton performance and some heroic saves from Van Oekel.

It was the best defence vs the best attack and the game took on a predictable pattern early on with Edmonton getting plenty of bodies behind the ball and Cosmos trying to break them down.

Cosmos went more direct than normal and it almost paid off after 10mins when Flores got on the end of a great long ball from Ayoze, but Flores could not direct the effort on target.

Cosmos lost Roversio to another hamstring injury early on, but it didn't change the game with Eddies showing little appetite to attack in the early stages.

Set pieces seemed the best way to break Eddies down, with Cosmos.

Arango came close to scoring when a trademark Arango free-kick struck the woodwork with Van Oekel well beaten and Arango had another opportunity later on, but his header from an Ayoze free-kick was well off target.

Eddies sprung into life near the end of the half and almost snatched an unlikely lead when Niassi got on the end of a long kick from Van Oekel that was flicked on. His effort hit the outside of the post to remind Cosmos of the danger that Edmonton pose on the breakaway.

Early in the 2nd half Cosmos again came close from a set piece with Adam Moffat's drive deflected narrowly wide. It was a bright start to the 2nd half from the home side as Guenzatti had a well executed volley from a corner needing to be tipped over by Van Oekel. But again Edmonton looked dangerous on the counter and a cross from the right found it's way to Fisk whose shot went narrowly into the side netting.

Controversy struck in the 55th minute when Flores was upended by Watson when the Cosmos man looked to have a clear run at goal. To the home side's dismay the referee brandished a yellow card allowing Edmonton to remain at full strength.

Van Oekel had another Arango free-kick to deal with in the 67th minute as Cosmos continued to look for a goal to break the deadlock. Soon after and Ayoze had a shot deflected wide as Edmonton were working hard to defend their goal.

Cosmos were becoming more urgent as time wore on, but the Eddies held firm while at the other end Niassi had an effort that had Maurer diving, but it ended up wide of the target. Mkosana wasted a great chance to win the game in the 83rd minute as a quick Cosmos break caught the Eddies surprisingly short at the back but the striker blazed the effort well over.

In the closing minutes Van Oekel made 2 crucial saves from a Guenzatti header from a corner and then from a Moffat volley which he tipped onto the post to earn his side a point.