(NASL 2017 Spring) New York Cosmos 1v1 Indy Eleven

Tuesday 4th July 2017
MCU Park, New York   Attendance -  6,734

It took a late controversial penalty, won and converted by Ledesma for the Cosmos to rescue a point against bogey side Indy Eleven.

Indy almost took the lead inside 2 minutes as Zayed picked out Don Smart at the far post. Smart had pulled free of his marker, but squandered a great opportunity as he rolled the ball into the side netting. Cosmos created their first real chance on 9mins when Ledesma had a deflected shot from the edge of the area which wrong footed the Indy keeper, only for the ball to drift wide of the post.

Cosmos were seeing more of the ball but the play often broke down in the final third although did manage a couple of openings halfway through the first half.

But Indy also continued to look dangerous on the counter attack and as Maurer came out to deal with a through ball a strange bounce on the turf looked set to leave the Cosmos keeper caught in no mans land as the bounce fell to Zayed, but Maurer managed to deal with the situation.

Indy made the breakthrough just after the half hour mark through Ben Speas. The Indy man collected a defence splitting pass and Ochieng slipped at the crucial moment, allowing Speas time to drill the ball through Maurer's legs and into the net.

Indy continued to look the more dangerous side as Vukovic had a good run down the Cosmos right wing only for Zayed to get his finish all wrong from the resulting cross. Zayed did better minutes later as the same 2 players linked up again, this time Zayed connected well with a diving header, but Maurer pulled off a great save to deny the Indy man.

Unsurprisingly after a poor 45 minutes changes were made for the home side as Starikov came on for Restrepo. Cosmos started the 2nd half with an increased tempo and Richter delivered a dangerous ball into the box to the substitute, but Starikov's header was poor and well off target.

Cosmos were continuing to push on and Guerra was presented with a great chance after a rare example of poor defending from Indy, but Jon Busch was quick to snuff out the danger as he dived at the feet of Guerra.

Indy had a chance to double the lead with 20mins remaining as Zayed hooked a loose ball to the far post, finding an unmarked Colin Falvey, but his header was off target and Cosmos survived.

Soon after Braun was through but his fierce drive was seen off by Maurer.

Cosmos were running out of time as Busch and Indy Eleven continued to stay strong with Busch palming away a well struck effort from Starikov.  

Cosmos were handed a lifeline in controversial circumstances with 5mins remaining when Falvey was adjudged to have fouled Ledesma, although replays proved there was little or no contact. Ledesma was the man who converted the penalty against an aggrieved Indy side.

The last chance of the match fell to Indy as Goldsmith forced Maurer into a save, but the score ended 1v1, a result that left both sides unsatisfied.