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Cosmos Clinch NASL Spring Season Title

June 13, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
New York Cosmos News Release


HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK - The New York Cosmos were crowned NASL Spring Season champions after a 3-3 draw with the Jacksonville Armada Saturday night cemented the team's undefeated league record so far in 2015.

The Cosmos got on the board early when forward Raúl caught Jacksonville goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo off of his line with a 40-yard lob. Raúl controlled with his chest and hit a left-footed shot on net off the bounce. As Gallardo scrambled back to his goal, the shot rang the crossbar and deflected off the Jacksonville keeper into his own net, giving the Cosmos a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.

New York continued to press and nearly added another minutes later, but Adam Moffat's cross off the counter-attack slid just past an outstretched Sebastian Guenzatti at the back post.

Controlling much of the run of play, the Cosmos were rewarded with a second goal in the 26th minute.

Midfielder Danny Szetela played a great ball over the Armada defense that found forward Hagop Chirishian breaking through. Chirishian used his first touch to flick the ball over the keeper and his second to find the back of the net.

It was a big moment for Chirishian, who has struggled with injuries this season and spent some time with the B-side.

"The month of May, it was just a bad month. I was out with injury the whole month, and then I got a start in Cuba which I got a goal in, so it boosted my confidence," Chirishian said. "Then getting a start here was amazing, and to get a goal in to win the spring championship, it was the thing we all dream of."

Needing just a draw to clinch the NASL spring title, New York was in the driver's seat heading into the locker room with a two-goal lead.

But Jacksonville came out of the break much more aggressive than in the first half, and cut the deficit to one in the 59th minute. Pascal Millien played a quick give-and-go with Jemal Johnson at the top of the box, splitting the Cosmos defense. Millien moved in on goal and beat Jimmy Maurer low to score the Armada's first goal in four matches.

Millien wasn't done there, as the Haitian international tallied his second of the night 15 minutes later. The Jacksonville striker fired home to level the score at two. With the brace, Millien became the first player in Armada history to have a multi-goal game.

With Jacksonville pressing for a third goal, it was Lucky Mkosana who gave the Cosmos a late lead against all the run of play. David Diosa ran down the left wing and threw in a cross to a streaking Mkosana, who poked it past Gallardo in the 86th minute.

After netting two goals in Cuba and tallying another crucial goal tonight, Mkosana had quite the week for the Cosmos.

"It's been one of the best weeks. Coming from Cuba, the emotions there, and then bringing that to this weekend," Mkosana said. "I feel like we did well as a team, and we need to continue doing that. It's not just individuals, it comes down to everybody,"

The supporters at Shuart Stadium were on their feet as it looked like the Cosmos were nearing a win, but in the 89th minute Jacksonville's Joseph Toby volleyed home a corner.

More than 7,300 supporters at Shuart Stadium celebrated with the players as they received the championship trophy, and captain Carlos Mendes applauded the Cosmos faithful.

"To win it in front of the fans was special," Mendes said. "I think we have some of the best fans in the league, the support matters and obviously we do well at home. For us to win the championship here, it's special, so we want to thank the fans of course."

With the spring season complete, the Cosmos can now look ahead to the June 17 match against Major League Soccer's New York City FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The team will be back on the training ground Sunday, as head coach Giovanni Savarese is looking forward to the big New York derby.

"These matches are what you need in a city in order to get the sport to grow," Savarese said. "For us, this match is going to be huge."

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