Sunday 12th November 2017
Kezar Stadium, San Francisco Attendance - 9,691
A
fourth NASL Championship in the reboot era evaded the Cosmos as they fell 2v0
to San Francisco Deltas. Despite the championship the Deltas will fold after
just one season in the NASL, with the future for the troubled League itself in
severe doubt.
The Cosmos got the game’s first chance in
the eighth minute. Off a corner, Javi Márquez got a foot on a cross to send the
ball toward goal. San Francisco goalkeeper, Romuald Peiser, could only partially clear the effort, but it was sent back towards goal
but Peiser was on hand to stop the effort.
Cosmos threatened again from a set
piece, this time from a free-kick which was dangerously flicked on but went
wide of the target.
But it was the Deltas who made the
breakthrough from the penalty spot which had an element of fortune to it. A
Cosmos clearance struck a team-mate in the face and back towards the Cosmos
goal. Delta's Jackson was quickest to react and Jimmy Maurer was adjusged to
have brought him down in the area for a penalty. Tommy Heinemann had been
beaten by the Cosmos in a previous final converted the penalty for the home
side.
Deltas tried pushed for a second
goal and Stephens curled a shot wide of Maurer's goal and Heinemann went closer
as he forced Maurer into a save following a scramble in the area in the 40th
minute.
In the second half a first time
effort from Heinemann went well over and he managed another effort from a right
wing cross whuch he headed wide shortly before the hour mark. Seconds later and
Heinemann again went close as Cosmos lost the ball deep in their own half and a
cross fell to an unmarked Heinemann who was denied by Maurer who was quick out
to the feet of the Deltas striker.
At the other end Peiser was denied
by a Ledesma effort, but later in the half went closer when a Lucky cross fell
to Starikov, who under pressure, could not direct it on target.
Deep into stoppage time Deltas
scored a second to ensure victory. A ball was slipped inside the Cosmos defence
and as Maurer collided with the attacker the loose ball fell to Devon Sandoval
who rolled the ball into the empty net.
