(NASL 2016 Spring) New York Cosmos 2v0 Jacksonville Armada

Saturday 10th April 2016
Hofstra University, New York   Attendance -  3,685

Cosmos recorded a 2nd straight home victory and clean sheet following a 2v0 victory over Jacksonville Armada.

New Jacksonville Coach Tony Meola confessed to being a Cosmos fan back in his youth, but his Jacksonville Armada did not give Cosmos any respect in the first half. The away sides pressing all over the pitch did not allow Cosmos to settle on the ball and the dangermen of Kranjcar and Arango were struggling to get on the ball.

But with Cosmos unable to play their way through the opposition the Cosmos made the breakthrough via the direct route. Jimmy Maurer sent a long punt upfield which was flicked on by Arango and Arrieta got on the end of it and sent a strike on goal. Cosmos benefited from some suspect keeping for the 2nd week in succession as Gallardo failed to stop the effort as the ball tricked over the line.

Jacksonville responded well to the blow and created a good chance as last seasons USL golden boot winner Matt Fondy was played in, but the angle was against the striker and he couldn't direct the effort on target. 

It was a below par performance from the Cosmos in the first 45mins, with the Armada forcing 7 corners to none from New York, in what was an uncomfortable half for the home side.

The 2 sides exchanged chances early in the 2nd half, with only a poor touch from Keita allowing Cosmos to snuff out the danger. At the other end a volley from Arango almost fell to Arrieta who could not get a touch onto the ball.

But Armada were unable to keep up the pressing of the 1st half and a switch from the Cosmos paid off as Moffat came on as a sub and got his name on the scoresheet again. A well worked move ended in Kranjcar teeing up the Scotsman who bent the ball past Gallardo to put Cosmos 2v0 up.

With the home side now in control, they threatened to put the game beyond Jacksonville as Kranjcar went close with a long range effort.

But as the game wore on Jacksonville made a late effort to force a way back in and went close on a couple of occasions. Elondou wasted a good chance as he could only find the side netting and after Maurer failed to collect a cross under pressure from Fondy, the loose ball fell to Junior Sandoval, but he could not direct his shot on goal.

Cosmos rode out the late spell of pressure and could have extended the margin of victory late on as Arango had an effort deflected onto the bar in the 90th minute.