NY Cosmos defeat any teams in home stadium!
HEMPSTEAD, NY (October 22, 2016) – The New York Cosmos made a statement in their final home game of the NASL regular season, scoring four first-half goals to defeat Miami FC 4-0 on Saturday night.
The result was the Cosmos’ 19th consecutive league match without a loss at Shuart Stadium, breaking their own record of 18 matches, set between the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
“I’m very proud of this team, especially with the way we played the first half,” said Cosmos Head Coach Giovanni Savarese. “I saw a team that was hungry, not satisfied with the fact that we already won the Fall Season and the Combined Season. The team wanted to show that every game matters.”
New York raced out to an early lead through striker Jairo Arrieta. The Costa Rican international split Miami FC’s center backs to connect with Juan Arango’s service into the 18-yard box. Arrieta headed toward the far post, beating goalkeeper Mario Daniel Vega in the second minute to put the Cosmos ahead 1-0.
The home side doubled its advantage five minutes later. This time Yohandry Orozco capitalized on a Miami turnover, chipping Vega from 20 yards to give the Cosmos a two-goal edge less than 10 minutes into the match.
Arango added to his team-leading goal tally in the 30th minute, scoring on one of his patented free kicks. The midfielder curled a shot over the Miami wall and inside the near post to net his 15th goal of the season.
Orozco completed his brace in the 36th minute by making an incisive run into space from the right wing. Sensing an opening, he took aim outside the box and found the target, firing low past a sprawling Vega.
Cosmos goalkeeper Brian Holt earned his fourth start and kept his first clean sheet this NASL Season. He denied Miami forward Vincenzo Rennella from point-blank range in second-half stoppage time.
“It was definitely a team effort,” said Holt. “I thought we did a good job of defending as a whole unit, and that allowed us good opportunities going forward. It’s always good to come out and get a game.”
The Cosmos (13-5-3 Fall, 19-5-7 Combined) won for the fourth time in five matches.
They finish their regular season at Shuart Stadium with an unblemished 14-2-0 (W-D-L)record.
