The Cosmos Remain Undefeated at Home With Win Over RailHawks

Published on October 13, 2013 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
New York Cosmos News Release


The New York Cosmos avenged their lone loss of the season by thrashing the Carolina RailHawks, 4-0, at Hofstra University's Shuart Stadium on Oct 12.

Danny Szetela, Diomar Diaz, Marcos Senna and Alessandro Noselli all scored for the red hot Cosmos, who extended their winning streak to five straight games.

The win also extends the team's unbeaten streak to eight straight games and means the Cosmos are one win away from clinching a berth in the North American Soccer League's Soccer Bowl.

"It was from the first minute that the team came out with the right attitude, completely dominated the game and they performed exactly the way we asked them to perform "" pressuring, possessing the ball, making the runs, finding the goal early," Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese said. "I would say so far it was the most complete game we have had this season."

Szetela put away the first quality chance for either team in the eighth minute, latching onto a low cross from Diomar Diaz and slotting a first-time attempt past Carolina goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald and inside the far post from 14 yards out.

"Four months ago, [Szetela] was playing in local leagues. He came into preseason and he's been growing every week," Savarese said. "Today he had a tremendous performance."

It was Szetela's first goal since Oct. 18, 2008 when he found the back of the net for Brescia in Italy's Serie B.

"We always talk about making our runs from the midfield, making our runs into the box," Szetela said. "Once I saw the ball go out wide, I just started running. Diomar played a great ball across and I took it first time and it went into the net."

Diaz added to his team-leading fifth goal of the year in the 53rd minute to double the Cosmos' lead. Paulo Mendes flicked on a long throw by Hunter Freeman to Diaz and the Venezuelan forward beat the defender to the ball and scored from inside the six-yard box.

"Diomar was great today," Savarese said. "He keeps scoring. The more confidence he gets, the better he becomes. There's a lot of talent there."

The goal came two minutes after Diaz played the ball to Sebastian Guenzatti, whose well-struck shot from 16 yards was parried away by Fitzgerald, who dived to his right.

Stefan Dimitrov almost added to the Cosmos' lead but his shot from 24 yards ricocheted off the crossbar in the 66th minute.

Senna put the Cosmos in front, 3-0, with a 76th minute penalty after his first attempt was waived off because of encroachment.

Noselli put the finishing touches on the emphatic victory with a near-post blast from 14 yards out for his second goal of the year.

A win over Edmonton On Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. in the home finale will book the Cosmos' berth in the Soccer Bowl against the Atlanta Silverbacks. Tickets are available at nycosmos.com/tickets

"Now we're a foot and a half into the championship and I think that boosts the confidence even further," Senna said. "Everything is coming around."

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North American Soccer League Stories from October 13, 2013


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