NY Cosmos in 4-2 lead over Jacksonville Armada FC
New York Cosmos scored three late goals to defeat Jacksonville Armada FC 4-2 on Saturday night at Community First Field.
With the win and FC Edmonton’s loss against Minnesota United FC, the Cosmos clinched the NASL Fall Season Championship and will be the number one seed heading into The Championship, which begins on November 5.
After the ball was mostly played in the midfield early in the game, the Cosmos got their best chance of the first half in the 23rd minute, and they converted. Jacksonville keeper Miguel Gallardo, who dove to make the save, stopped Jairo Arrieta’s initial shot from the right side. On the rebound, Yohandry Orozco slid past a defender and tapped the ball into a vacant net to give the Cosmos a 1-0 lead.
Late in the half, Jacksonville looked to even the score on a free kick from Mechack Jerome, but Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer made a diving save to keep New York ahead 1-0 at halftime.
In the second half, the home side was able to break through. In the 66th minute, Jacksonville forward Alhassane Keita received the ball inside the Cosmos box and scored
with a high shot to even the score at one. Thirteen minutes later, Jacksonville took a 2-1 lead as Zach Steinberger scored on a rebound to give Armada FC the lead.
Just three minutes after Jacksonville took the lead, the Cosmos earned a free kick outside the Jacksonville box. Juan Arango took the kick and blasted it off the crossbar, down, and in to even the score at two. But Arango wasn’t done. Five minutes later, he stood over another free kick from a dangerous spot. Again, his shot went past Gallardo to give the Cosmos a 3-2 lead in the 88th minute. The goal was Arango’s 14th of the season. Late in stoppage time, Arrieta put the game out of reach when his low shot beat Gallardo to give the Cosmos a 4-2 lead that they wouldn’t give up.
The victory was Cosmos Head Coach Giovanni Savarese’s 50th NASL regular season win, becoming just the third coach in the NASL modern era to reach this milestone.
As Fall and Combined Season Champions, the Cosmos (12-5-3 Fall, 18-5-7 Combined) will play their last regular season home match next Saturday, October 22, when they host Miami FC. Kickoff is set for 7pm.
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