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Cosmos squander 2-Goal lead, drop points to Deltas

September 21, 2017 By Scott Enman Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Cosmos players celebrate their first goal of the game. New York’s exultation, however, was short-lived after the team conceded two goals in the final 11 minutes of the match, despite having a man advantage. Photos courtesy of the New York Cosmos
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Before Wednesday’s match against the San Francisco Deltas, Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese implored his team to get three points, to keep a clean sheet and to build some momentum.

With a two-goal lead and a man advantage with 11 minutes left to play, it appeared as though New York had answered Savarese’s plea, but a series of costly mistakes saw the match finish 2-2.

“I was much more content about the performance of the team today,” said Savarese after his team dropped points at MCU Park in Coney Island. “I think we played very well today. The first half was a very good half. We created a lot of chances and scored two goals.

“I think we did enough to be able to win this game. Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way.”

A positive was that New York scored early in the match, a rare feat for a team known as the Cardiac Cosmos for its late-game comebacks.

The first goal came in the 19th minute courtesy of Juan Guerra.

Eugene Starikov displayed good habits to shoot to the far post, forcing San Francisco goalkeeper Romuald Peiser to make a save and leave the ball in front of the goal.

Guerra deftly placed the rebound into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

Another positive was that the Cosmos did not allow a shot on goal in the first half, and they took a lead into the break for only the third time in 25 games.

In the 60th minute, the Cosmos were awarded a penalty, which Pablo Vranjican cheekily converted by going up the middle for his fifth goal of the season.

In the 62nd minute, New York’s day got easier as a red card was shown to Michael Stephens for kicking Ayoze while he was lying on the field.

Soon thereafter, however, the tides turned.

In the 78th minute, Danny Szetela, less than a minute after coming on as a sub, pulled down a San Francisco player in the penalty area. Devon Sandoval then hit home the spot kick.

In the 85th minute, Kobi Moyal cheaply gave the ball away to Sandoval. With Cosmos goalkeeper Brian Holt off his line, Sandoval sniped the ball into the upper corner of the net to complete his brace.

Eugene Starikov had two golden opportunities to put the game away, but he was unable to find the back of the net on either occasion.

In the 29th minute, Starikov could not keep a cross down and sent the ball flying over the crossbar. In the 55th minute, Starikov was one-on-one with Peiser, but he put the ball directly into the goalie’s wheelhouse.

“We got a little complacent,” said Savarese. “We were still moving the ball, still creating chances, but I think the thing that was missing was being able to put them down.”

He added, “If we were able to capitalize on those chances, they would have given up, but we gave them life. When they scored the goal to make it 2-1, they believed that they could get back into the game. In the end, it’s more lost points that we had in our hands.”

What the Cosmos still do have in their grasp — despite enduring an eight-game winless streak — is their future.

Although New York dropped points, the squad still remains in the playoff hunt. The team is in fifth place on goal differential, but tied on points with North Carolina and Jacksonville for third. Only three points separate four teams fighting for the playoffs.

Although there are six matches remaining, Saturday’s game versus North Carolina is a must-win game since San Francisco and Jacksonville have games in hand on the Cosmos.

Despite the disappointing result, Guerra, who earned Man of the Match honors for his goal, was optimistic about the future.

“It’s soccer,” said Guerra. “It’s life. I’m just going to go home and take the positives because there were a lot of positives today and just very few mistakes.

“I’m going to try and work on the positive things, stay strong mentally and physically, and I’m sure we’re going to change this situation sooner than later. If you work hard and stay positive, the only way to go is forward.”  

Extra Time: Coney Island-born Nets guard Isaiah Whitehead was on hand at MCU Park for Wednesday’s game in front of an announced crowd of 4,360.

Follow reporter Scott Enman on Twitter.

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