(NASL 2017 Spring) North Carolina FC 0v1 New York Cosmos

Sunday 4th June 2017
Wakemed Soccer Park, Cary   Attendance -  4,027

North Carolina may have changed their name from their Railhawk days but they continue to be happy hunting for the Cosmos as New York wrapped up another victory at Wakemed Soccer Park. Cosmos were well worth the win in one of their best performances of the season with a Guerra strike early in the 2nd half enough to win.

Just seconds into the game Carolina were forced into a clearance off the line as a Carolina clearance struck a team-mate and fell into the path of Herrera whose header needed to be hooked away off the line.

Cosmos continued their bright start to the game with a series of attacks from both wings, but Carolina showed some danger on the counter attack when Fondy shot wide on 11mins, which was the home sides only real chance of a poor 1st half from the home side.

Carolina were struggling to deal with Restrepo's wing play and his low pass to Guerra gave the midfielder a clear shot on goal, but the effort was poor and well over.

Carolina keeper Sylvestre was called into action early in the 2nd half after Carolina lost the ball inside their own half. The ball was played to Ayoze who was denied by the leg of Sylvestre. Soon after and Sylvestre was needed again as this time Herrera was played in, but the big keeper was off his line to make the stop.

The pressure finally told as Cosmos made the breakthrough seconds later. Flores had an effort well saved and the loose ball was played over to the far post where it was chipped back in by Restrepo to Guerra who chested the ball and fired it into the net.

Carolina were forced to throw more into attack but Cosmos still looked the more dangerous although a long ball saw Fondy with an effort around the hour mark which marked Holt's first save of the game. But seconds later there was a better chance as Shipalane broke down the right wing but he elected to pass and Cosmos scrambled the ball away.

The action was end to end as the game wore on with chances at both ends with Flores going close with an effort from outside the area which had Sylvestre diving across his goal. Cosmos should have put the game to bed after a swift attack as Ayoze played in Starikov but the substitute wasted a glorious chance by smashing the ball over.

Albadawi had a chance to make the Cosmos pay with an effort from outside the box which went narrowly wide, although in truth Holt had it covered and Cosmos saw out the rest of the game to record another victory on the road.