(NASL 2017 Spring) New York Cosmos 1v1 Jacksonville Armada

Saturday 22nd April 2017
MCU Park, New York   Attendance -  3,605

It was a game of two halves as Cosmos shared the spoils with surprise leaders Jacksonville Armada at MCU Park.

After a stuttering start to the season from the attack Cosmos shone in the first half and Marquez drilled an effort through the legs of a Jacksonville player and into the net for the first home goal of the season.

Cosmos had threatened before that goal as Marquez found an unmarked Restrepo from a free-kick but the Cosmos man's effort from an acute angle was well saved.

Armada were largely second best in the first half and Cosmos threatened again when a poor clearance from a Richter cross fell to Starikov whose well struck effort was saved.

Cosmos started the 2nd half on top and Starikov should have done better in the 53rd minute as he failed to connect properly with an effort that was blocked by Kevan George. Starikov had another sight of goal soon after but he again failed to make the most of the chance and shot well wide.

But as the game wore on the tide turned and it was Armada who dominated the latter part of the game.

Just past the hour mark Armada went close to equaliser as a JC Banks cross flew dangerously across the New York goal but no Armada player could deliver the vital touch to put it in. Soon after Jimmy Maurer had to stretch to palm away a Steinberger cross-shot that threatened to lob the Cosmos keeper.

The pressure was building from the away side and JC Banks fired a fine effort past Maurer to put Armada level, after cutting in from the right wing.

it could have been worse for the home side as Jimmy Maurer almost got caught in possession after cutting out a through ball, but just managed to save himself from an embarrassing situation. Jacksonville were looking the side most likely to get a winner as Eloundou got on the end of a long pass to fire wide.

Both sides threw everything at each other to fashion a late winner and Cosmos almost were punished on the counter attack by the Armada late on, but it ended level on the night.