(NASL 2017 Spring) FC Edmonton 0v1 New York Cosmos

Saturday 15th June 2017

Clarke Stadium, Edmonton, Canada   Attendance -  4,096

A late goal from Eric Calvillo earned Cosmos a win in the last week of the Spring season to leave New York 3rd in the standings after a win in Edmonton.

The Cosmos did most of the running in the first 20 minutes and had the bulk of the early scoring opportunities. Cosmos midfielder Eric Calvillo fired a shot just wide from just outside the penalty area 15 minutes in. Javi Marquez missed from in tight a few minutes later and dangerous low ball played across the face of the net came within inches of being turned in.

Richter should have put Cosmos ahead after 20mins as he rose unchallenged from a corner, but could not control his header which went well wide.

Edmonton created their best chances later in the half off a pair of free kicks whipped into the penalty are by midfielder Ben Fisk. The first found the head of defender Netan Sansara, but he failed to connect cleanly, while the second was met by midfielder Sabri Khattab at the far post and lofted back across the net, forcing an excellent save out of Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer, who tipped the ball over the crossbar.

Just before the end of the half, FC Edmonton striker Tomi Ameobi should have put the home side in front, chasing down a long ball he intercepted a poor back pass to Maurer. Ameobi lofted his effort over the goalkeeper, but it rolled wide. The Cosmos were once again the better team to start the second half and would have taken the lead five minutes in had it not been for a great save from goalkeeper Tyson Farago on Calvillo. Farago dove to his left to stop a shot from in tight on Calvillo, who had split the FC Edmonton defence.

A few minutes later Farago made another good diving stop, turning away midfielder Juan Guerra on a tight-angled shot at the near post.

Edmonton’s first good opportunity of the half came in the 70th minute on a counterattack after Fisk lofted a ball over a defender to Sainey Nyassi to the right of the penalty area. Nyassi cut inside and fired a left footed shot that whistled just wide.

The Cosmos scored in the 79th minute after a low cross from the wing was eventually scrambled in by Calvillo. There was some confusion after the goal as the assistant referee on the far side raised his flag for an apparent offside, but after consultation with the centre referee, the goal stood.