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Cosmos Remain Undeafeated as They Kick-Off the Fall Season

July 5, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
New York Cosmos News Release


HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - (July 5, 2015) The Cosmos started the match off strong and controlled possession in the opening 25 minutes. Their best opportunity came in the 19th minute when Leo Fernandes intercepted an errant pass from and Indy Eleven defender and played Mads Stokkelien out to his left. Stokkelien took a touch and fired on goal, but Kristian Nicht was able to parry the shot wide.

Against all the run of play, it was Indy who took the lead in the 26th minute. Jimmy Mulligan's clearance attempt took a deflection and popped high in the air, where Wojciech Wojcik connected on a volley to put Indy ahead 1-0.

Goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer said that Indy just has a knack of finding a goal, even when they're being outplayed.

"It seems like every time we play this team something crazy happens and it leads to them getting a goal," Maurer said. "It's the same thing the last couple of times we've played them. We dominate the game, they get one weird break and all of a sudden we're down 1-0."

The goal gave Indy some life, as the visitors nearly made it 2-0 less than ten minutes later. Dylan Mares crossed a free kick to the far post where Duke Lacroix sent a header on goal, forcing Jimmy Maurer to make a great save, popping the ball over the bar.

After Lacroix's chance the Cosmos gathered their composure and regained more of the possession, but went into the break down a goal.

The second half had a similar start to the first, with Indy rarely controlling the ball in the Cosmos half.

Walter Restrepo had come on as a substitute in the second half, and the midfielder said that he knew his pace would help him coming off of the bench.

"I saw that there was a lot of space," Restrepo said. "I was able to bring my speed into the game."

Restrepo took a through ball in from Marcos Senna and fired on target, with Kristian Nicht making the initial save. However, Nicht's save shot right back at Restrepo and deflected off his head and into the goal to level the score at one.

The Cosmos continued to pour on the attack in search of a winner, and it looked like Sebastian Guenzatti found it in the 88th minute. Guenzatti was open at the back post and stuck out a leg to tap in a cross from Marcos Senna. The linesman did not raise his flag for offsides, but as the Cosmos celebrated referee Mathieu Bordeau consulted with his assistant. After the two talked, Bordeau called back the goal as things remained level at Shuart Stadium.

Coach Giovanni Savarese said he thought there was a chance that the goal was offside.

"From where I was, it looked a little bit like it was offside. That was my impression at first when I saw the play," Savarese said. "For me, what I think is difficult, is when the referee makes a decision, it should be taken, especially when there is doubt. It has happened many times to us. Many times it has gone the other way, and we have taken it and we keep on going. So regardless to what I saw, I just don't understand why the decision was changed."

After five minutes of stoppage time the tense second half came to a close, with the night ending in a 1-1 draw.

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