(NASL 2016 Spring) New York Cosmos 1v0 Rayo OKC

Sunday 28th May 2016
Hofstra University, New York   Attendance -  4,068

Cosmos edged closer to another Spring Title thanks to an ill tempered 1v0 victory over expansion side Rayo OKC and another set of favourable results elsewhere in the League. Three men were sent off for the visitors, and it took only 3mins for the physical element to the game to present itself as Rayo's Michel was upended by Guenzatti.

Cosmos were making the early running and a 25 yard effort from Orozco forced a fantastic save from Daniel Fernandes in the 12th minute and 7mins later Arango had an effort that missed the target by a close margin.

But despite the pressure from the home side Billy Forbes had a chance to put Rayo ahead as he was played in on goal, but Maurer did well to rush out and narrow the angle and made the stop. Maurer was forced into making a save from the same player a minute later, but Rayo would end the half with 10 men after Michel was sent off. Chasing down a back pass from Mendes to Maurer, Michel went in dangerously on Maurer and received a deserved red card.

Cosmos pressed for the opening goal in the early exchanges of the 2nd half and Arrieta had an effort go over the bar after a brilliant cross from Ayoze. The goal came from an unlikely source as Danny Szetela broke the deadlock. A Guenzatti cross from the  right was flicked on and Szetela arrived in the box with perfect timing to guide the ball past Fernandes.

Guenzatti came close to wrapping the game up in the 80th minute when Andres Flores flighted pass found the Cosmos man, but Guenzatti's delicate chip was just off target. As the game drew to a close Rayo lost their cool and lost 2 more players to red cards in the process.

Forbes was dismissed after an elbow to Hunter Freeman in the 89th minute and Samaras followed in stoppage time for a 2nd yellow card, as he felled Bover from behind as Cosmos threatened on goal.

Bizarrely OKC almost grabbed a shock equaliser at the death as Menjivar forced past Maurer, but the ball had been flicked on by a player in an offside position, so the flag came to the rescue of the home side.