NY Cosmos defeat Boca Raton FC 3-0
The New York Cosmos of the preseason with last game in South Florida with a 3-0 victory against Boca Raton FC at Boca Raton HS Stadium on Saturday night.
Cosmos midfielder Andrés Flores struck less than 10 minutes into the match to put the visitors ahead. The 25-year-old El Salvador international was rewarded for his charging run into the 18-yard box, as striker Lucky Mkosana picked him out and Flores finished powerfully to make it 1-0. Cosmos continued to pressure, but that score held as both teams left the field for halftime.
Continuing on a theme established in previous preseason dates, Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese opted for waves of changes to his lineup in the second half. Michael Lahoud, Yohandry Orozco, Jairo Arrieta, Yasmani Duk and David Diosa all brought energy off the bench, with Diosa and Duk influencing New York’s final two scores.
First it was Diosa, who replaced Mkosana in the 79th minute and promptly earned a free kick from straight on, just 20 yards away from goal. Defender Hunter Freeman stepped up and drilled his attempt past the goalkeeper, doubling the Cosmos lead. In the 88th minute Duk went for goal from the edge of the area, and his blast deflected off a pair of Boca Raton defenders and in to extend the lead.
When the final whistle sounded it was 3-0 Cosmos, an identical finish to the matchup with NPSL side Miami United FC Wednesday night in Fort Lauderdale. The Cosmos will next travel to Charleston, S.C. for another preseason fixture, this time against Charleston Battery of USL on Saturday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m.
