(NASL 2016 Fall) New York Cosmos 4v0 Miami FC

Saturday 22nd October 2016
Hofstra University, New York   Attendance -  5,852

A rampant Cosmos smashed Miami FC 4v0 with all 4 goals coming in the first half. The win sets a new NASL home winning streak and finally puts Miami out of post-season contention.

It took just 2mins for the Cosmos to open the scoring in front of their biggest crowd of the season. Arango didn't look in a particularly dangerous crossing position, but the Cosmos man whipped in a cross which was met beautifully by Arrieta, who despite being just inside the box his header was guided into the corner past Miami keeper Vega.

This match could have been a preview for the Championship semi-finals, but a losing streak had resulted in them falling behind in the running and that run was not about to end as they soon went 2v0 down following poor play at the back.

Palacios played a woefully short free-kick back to his keeper which was hunted down by Arrieta. Former Cosmos man Freeman managed to slide in and prevent Arrieta from getting to the ball, but his clearance fell straight to Orozco who chipped the ball into the empty net.

Miami finally started to stem the wave of Cosmos attacks, but fell further behind on the half hour mark from another trademark Juan Arango free-kick as his effort cleared the wall and dipped into the net. The first half performance was as good as anything seen this season and Cosmos added a fourth through Orozco.

Miami were slow to close Orozco down as he cut in from the right and from outside the area he drilled the ball inside the near post past Vega to put the Cosmos in complete control at the half.

Miami improved in the 2nd half and a giveaway from Moffat almost led to a goal for the visitors early in the 2nd half.  Cvitanich picked up the wayward pass by the Cosmos man and played in Rennella, whose shot beat Maurer, but also went over the bar.

Chances were exchanged at both ends with the best chance for the home side came when a good ball from substitute Szetela found Bover in space but Vega stopped any further damage. Miami went in search for a consolation goal as the game wore on, but Holt's clean sheet remained in tact as Cosmos ended their League campaign unbeaten at home.