Cosmos extend unbeaten streak away from home

New York Splits Points with Armada for Second Time This Season

May 8, 2017 By Scott Enman Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The Cosmos dropped into a two-way tie for third place following the team’s 1-1 draw on Saturday against Jacksonville Armada FC. Photos courtesy of Jacksonville Armada FC

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“It’s heartbreak, man. It’s like getting broken up with in middle school by the girl you’ve loved since kindergarten,” Jacksonville Armada FC midfielder Zach Steinberger said after his team lost to the Cosmos in the dying minutes of a game last season.

On Saturday, however, it was Steinberger who returned the favor after he delivered a stunning goal in stoppage time to tie the game 1-1.

Although the tying goal was deflating and prevented the Cosmos from moving into first place, it was a well-deserved point away from home against a Jacksonville team that entered the game in first place, undefeated in six games.

With the draw, the Cosmos continued their unbeaten streak on the road moving to 2-0-2.

“We obtained a very important point on the road,” said Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese. “More than anything, we are very proud of the work the team did tonight.”

It took a pair of spectacular goals from each team to remind everyone in attendance why these two squads are in the upper echelon of the North America Soccer League (NASL) standings.

The Cosmos opened up the scoring in the 24th minute, thanks to a powerful and precise goal from Javi Marquez.

The Spaniard curled a left-footed free quick over the wall, which smacked off the far post and into the back of the net past the diving Jacksonville goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell.

It was Marquez’s second goal of the season and the Cosmos’ fifth in six games.

Jacksonville leads the league with only three goals allowed, two of which have come courtesy of Marquez.

The teams previously drew 1-1 on April 22 in Coney Island.

In the 42nd minute, Cosmos midfielder Daniel Szetela nearly made it 2-0 were it not for a sprawling save by Patterson-Sewell.

The Cosmos took their foot off the gas in the second half as Jacksonville employed high pressure on New York’s backline and forced Jimmy Maurer into making a pair of great saves.

The Cosmos net-minder made four stops on the day, moving him into second place for most saves in NASL this season with 25.

It wasn’t until stoppage time, however, that Jacksonville finally tied the score in dramatic fashion.

The brace came in the 95th minute courtesy of Steinberger who hit a lofted cross on a full volley into the upper corner of the net. Maurer was able to get a hand on the ball, but there was nothing he could do to keep the net from rippling.

The strike was the first away goal allowed by the Cosmos this season.

Jacksonville out-possessed the Cosmos 64 to 36 percent on the day.

Savarese continued to utilize the talent he had available, implementing a 4-1-4-1 formation, which proved effective in last week’s 1-0 win against the San Francisco Deltas.

A positive for the Cosmos was that captain Carlos Mendes came on as a substitute in the 57th minute after missing four games with a groin injury. Mendes did not travel to the West Coast the weekend before.

The Cosmos entered the match having beaten Jacksonville four times in seven games and outscoring them 14-7.

The draw dropped the Cosmos into a two-way tie for third place with nine points, while Jacksonville dropped to second place with 10 points.

The Cosmos return to MCU Park on Saturday for Fireworks Night and a three-game home stand.

New York will host a struggling Puerto Rico FC, a team owned by Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony.

Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on MSG Networks and ESPN3.