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Winning Start, Finish for Cosmos in 2015

New York collected silverware near and far throughout 2015.
Published Nov 20, 2015

From February in Hong Kong to November in New York, the Cosmos began and ended their 2015 campaign raising trophies.

First it was the 2015 Lunar New Year AET Cup, which the Cosmos won via penalty shootout over South China AA in front of 19,522 fans at Hong Kong Stadium. Raúl netted New York’s opening penalty in the shootout after going the distance in his preseason debut with the club.

The Cosmos preseason tour included stops in California, El Salvador and Florida, with the squad picking up wins over Ventura County Fusion and Sacramento Republic FC but falling a 1-0 against C.D. FAS at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador. Over 25,000 spectators watched the Cosmos face FAS, while 20,000-plus packed Sacramento’s Hughes Stadium to see Raúl score his first Cosmos goal stateside.

New York charged through the NASL Spring Season without losing a game, while Ottawa Fury sparked a remarkable turnaround in their fortunes to take the the Fall title, losing just one of their 20 games. In the end it was the Cosmos' second goal in the win over Tampa Bay Rowdies to close out the regular season that secured home advantage throughout The Championship. New York took the league’s Combined Season crown.

The Cosmos opened up 2015 with two road games, beating the Fort Lauderdale Strikers behind a Leo Fernandes header, then tying 1-1 at Indy Eleven thanks to Raúl's first league goal for the club. The classic rivalry with the Tampa Bay Rowdies was renewed for the home opener at Hofstra with the Cosmos coming out on top 2-0. The Cosmos’ following home game was at MCU Park in Coney Island, a 1-0 victory over Ottawa that was part of a doubleheader with the B team's first-ever match. They beat Brooklyn Italians 3-2 and would go on to win the NPSL title.

Cosmos B capped un unbeaten debut season with a 3-2 NPSL Championship win over Chattanooga FC.

Back at Hofstra, an entertaining 4-2 Mother's Day win over FC Edmonton would maintain momentum, and a point rescued against the Carolina RailHawks with two last-minute goals demonstrated the character and stamina of this Cosmos team. Their unbeaten record was preserved by another 90th-minute goal, this time by Raúl from a sublime Andrés Flores ball, in a 1-1 tie at Minnesota on May 30.

The historic game in Cuba came just three days later, and the Cosmos raced into a four-goal lead by the break, ultimately winning 4-1. The perfect home record was only blemished at the final hurdle in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Jacksonville Armada FC, but the Spring title was still secured.

There was U.S. Open Cup excitement in between the Spring and Fall seasons, with a win against MLS side New York City FC on penalties at Hofstra after an exciting late comeback by the Cosmos from two goals down. But the Cosmos exited the competition on July 1 with a 4-1 loss against the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena.

The Fall campaign started with three winless games: two 1-1 ties with Indy Eleven, and their first NASL loss of the year, a 1-0 loss in Jacksonville. The Cosmos were back in stride in August though, beating Fort Lauderdale and Minnesota United at home in a single week. Hunter Freeman scored in both games, with his half volley against Minnesota undoubtedly one of the goals of the season.

Next came a stirring fight back from three goals down at Fort Lauderdale, with Sebastian Guenzatti equalizing in the last minute. There were comeback wins at home against the San Antonio Scorpions and away against Carolina, then a goalless game in Ottawa. August came to a close with an absorbing 3-2 win over a visiting Carolina squad. September started with the Cosmos' second NASL defeat of the year, both in Florida, at Tampa Bay.

Raúl celebrates his juking match-winner against Armada FC on Sept. 12 at Shuart Stadium.

Raúl posted his contender for goal of the season with the only score against Jacksonville in a 1-0 win at Hofstra, but there then followed a run of four winless games, including a 4-1 loss against Ottawa, the only home loss of the year.

The Cosmos would pick themselves up for the stretch run though, winning their last four games of the regular season with an aggregate score of 10-1. For The Championship Semifinal, Fort Lauderdale opened the scoring at MCU Park but this barely seemed to fluster the Cosmos, with Gastón Cellerino and Raúl turning the game on its head in a 2-1 victory, setting up the ideal swansong for the latter.

In front of an NASL postseason record crowd at Hofstra, the Cosmos sent Marcos Senna and Raúl off into retirement in style with a 3-2 victory over Ottawa Fury FC for the Cosmos’ seventh Soccer Bowl trophy. Cellerino paced the Cosmos offense throughout and his hat trick performance in The Championship Final gave him four goals on the postseason. It was the Cosmos second championship in their three seasons since the reboot era.