Narrow Win In Minnesota Edges Cosmos Closer To Soccer Bowl Berth

October 5, 2013 - North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release

(MIAMI, Fla, October 5, 2013) - The New York Cosmos opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the North American Soccer League with a narrow 1-0 win away to Minnesota United FC.

A second half Paulo Mendes goal proved the difference between the sides to open the gap in the NASL standings, which will be cut to four points if the Carolina RailHawks win in Canada on Sunday when they face FC Edmonton at Clarke Stadium at 4pm ET, live on www.NASL.com .

"It was definitely a big win because we played against a very good team," said Cosmos coach Giovanni Savarese. "They created many difficulties for us especially in the second half. Our team was very compact and we were able to pull out a very important win. Overall we beat a very good team today."

The current table features four teams all in hot pursuit of the Cosmos on 14 points with the Tampa Bay Rowdies still in second place despite falling to a 2-1 defeat away to cross-state rival the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the Florida derby.

Goals either side of halftime from Martin Nuñez and Bradlee Baladez gave the Strikers maximum points at home in front of a crowd of 3,612 at Lockhart Stadium and condemned the Rowdies to a second straight loss after they surrendered their unbeaten record last week.

"The first half was the best from this team of the season so far," said Strikers coach Gunter Kronsteiner. "We were very concentrated and there were a lot of chances we had to defend. Nobody expected that we could beat them."

The Scorpions delighted the home crowd in San Antonio with a second straight home win as they edged NASL Spring Season title winners the Atlanta Silverbacks 1-0. Polish striker Tomasz Zahorski scored his sixth goal of the fall campaign to earn maximum points after the Scorpions had to adjust to losing joint league-leading scorer Hans Denissen (12 goals) to injury early in the game.

"I asked the guys at halftime just to grind it out," said Scorpions coach Alen Marcina. "Games like this sometimes you just have to grind it. We got back to the basics: hard work in training and leaving it all out on the field."

NASL Week 10 Results

Saturday, October 5

Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1

Minnesota United FC 0 New York Cosmos 1

San Antonio Scorpions 1 Atlanta Silverbacks 0

Sunday, October 6

FC Edmonton vs. Carolina RailHawks

Clarke Stadium; Edmonton, AB 4:00 pm

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North American Soccer League Stories from October 5, 2013

• Minnesota United FC Falls 1-0 to New York Cosmos - Minnesota United FC
• Narrow Win In Minnesota Edges Cosmos Closer To Soccer Bowl Berth - NASL
• Zahorski's Goal Gives Scorpions 1-0 Win - San Antonio Scorpions
• Strikers Defeat Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-1 at Home - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
• Rowdies Late Goal Not Enough to Avoid 2-1 Loss to Strikers - Tampa Bay Rowdies

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