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Cosmos Clinch Postseason Berth with Draw

October 19, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
New York Cosmos News Release


BLAINE, Minn. - The New York Cosmos earned a hard-fought point, and clinched a spot in The Championship - the North American Soccer League's four team postseason tournament, in a 0-0 draw at league leaders Minnesota United FC on Saturday night.

This was the third meeting of 2014 between the first and third place teams in the NASL Combined Season Standings, and the first at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. New York entered the match on the heels of a last-minute 2-1 victory against Ottawa Fury FC, while the hosts were coming off a 3-2 victory at Tampa Bay in the midweek match on Wednesday.

"It's great to clinch a spot in the postseason," said Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer after the match. "Obviously this isn't the way we planned it, but at the end of the day it's all about making the postseason and seeing what we can do from there."

The visitors came out the stronger of the two sides, and looked purposeful going forward in attack. The first real opportunity of the match, though, came for Minnesota. Speedy Minnesota midfielder Miguel Ibarra motored away down the wing and sent in a low cross towards midfielder Kevin Venegas, who saw his effort saved at point-blank range by Maurer in the 15th minute.

United continued to push forward in attack, and nearly had the game's opening goal through the aforementioned Ibarra in the 30th minute. Ibarra was played in on goal after a neat flick on, and rounded Maurer after a well-controlled first touch in the box, only to see his effort cleared off the line by Cosmos defender Hunter Freeman. The danger wasn't clear, though, and Maurer was called into action once more following a stinging free kick from Minnesota's Daniel Mendes in the 32nd minute.

Just minutes later, Minnesota appeared to be clean in on goal, only for the referee to bring play back to award a yellow card to Cosmos midfielder Danny Szetela for a tug of the shirt in the 35th minute. Minnesota players were upset with Younes Marrakchi's decision, and the score remained 0-0 going into the break.

The second half began much the same way as the first, with the Cosmos controlling possession in the midfield, and creating a majority of the opportunities. The visitors heaped cross after cross into the Minnesota box, but were unable to find the score to break the deadlock.

The hosts soon grew into the second 45, though, and gave the Cosmos something to think about through the movement of Venegas. The Norwalk, Calif. native made a marauding run into New York's penalty area in the 65th minute, but was marshalled off the ball by Szetela. Minnesota continued to keep the pressure on the visitors, and it was Ibarra once again who came close to finding the back of the net. The United States international was played into the area with a perfectly-threaded through ball in the 74th minute, but Freeman was alert to the danger and did well to force Ibarra away from goal.

Then there was a moment of real controversy in the 85th minute that nearly turned the match on its head. Minnesota United was awarded a penalty after Cosmos captain Carlos Mendes was judged to have barged over Ramirez in the box. Mendes received a red card for the foul, and Ramirez stepped up to the spot to try and give United a late lead. The league-leading goal-scorer sent his effort high and wide, though, in the 87th minute, and the match remained level at 0-0.

The 10 men of New York defended furiously for the remainder of the match, and left Minnesota with a point and a clean sheet.

"It was a hard-fought draw for sure," said Cosmos assistant coach Alecko Eskandarian. "The guys worked their butts off until the end, and obviously dealt with a few different scenarios we didn't perceive. Hunter Freeman moved to center back, [Hunter] Gorskie checked in at right back, we switched things around and didn't miss a beat. The guys fought hard, and in the second half the play was much better. [We] created a few opportunities, but we didn't concede, and at the end of the day we'll take the draw on the road."

Next up, the Cosmos will welcome the Tampa Bay Rowdies to James M. Shuart Stadium for their regular season home finale on Saturday, Oct. 25. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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