(NASL 2017 Fall) New York Cosmos 1v0 Puerto Rico FC

Sunday 1st October 2017
MCU Park, New York   Attendance -  3,733

New York gained a much needed win over Puerto Rico to boost their flagging hopes of post season action thanks to a 2nd half strike from Javi Marquez. The visitor's preparations for the game were hardly ideal, with their home island in turmoil at the hands of hurricane damage. The sides home ground had been badly damaged and was not expected to be in a playable condition anytime soon and as a result preparations for the game were far from ideal.

Cosmos showed no charity in the first half as they put the visitors on the back foot for most of the first half. Most of the danger was caused by the visitors own making from being caught out from loose passes in their own half being intercepted.

The first Cosmos chance came via that route as Flores won the ball and fed Guerra, only for Spangenberg to keep the effort out with his legs. New York continued to press and came close with an audacious effort from Ledesma who with his back to goal hooked the ball over his head and with Spangenberg well beaten the ball crept the wrong side of the post.

Puerto Rico's rust showed as they continued to cede possession in dangerous areas, but some loose passes from the Cosmos let the visitors off the hook as opportunities went begging.

Guerra went close again soon after as his close range header struck a Puerto Rico player which sent the ball looping over the bar.

Just before half time there were chances at both ends for a goal. Puerto Rico's defence went missing again as Carlos Mendes was left all alone from a corner, but Spangenberg came to his sides rescue again as he produced a fine save. But seconds later the defensive errors spread to the Cosmos as a poor back pass let in Puerto Rico's Gentile, but Mulligan made a last gasp clearance off the line after Maurer had been beaten to keep the scores level.

Seconds into the 2nd half Puerto Rico's goal survived another scare as a Cosmos shot was saved and as the ball looped up a header sent the ball goalbound, only for Spangenberg palmed the ball away.

Both sides made attacking substitutions to try and break the deadlock but it was Welshman for PR who made an immediate impact as he muscled his way into a shooting position, only for Maurer to pull off a good save.

Spangenberg continued to prove a difficult barrier to break as he kept out an effort from Calvillo which took a deflection and threatened to creep in at the near post.

Cosmos finally made the breakthrough with less than 20mins remaining. Finally Cosmos capitalised on another poor piece of play from Puerto Rico as substitute Lucky Mkosana won possession. A well worked move ended with the ball being played to Marquez, who drilled the ball past Spangenberg.

The visitors responded well and caused some hairy moments for the home side, but Cosmos held firm. In stoppage time Puerto Rico were once again reduced to 10 men as Walter Ramirez kicked out late on, with Calvillo lucky not to get the same treatment after a retaliation was not spotted.

But Javi Marquez's goal was enough to breathe life into the Cosmos bid for a playoff berth.