News

Cosmos Beat Rayo to Stay Perfect at Home

Danny Szetela's second-half strike is the difference at Shuart Stadium on Saturday night.
Published May 28, 2016

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (May 28, 2016) – The New York Cosmos played their way by Rayo OKC 1-0 Saturday night at Hofstra University's Shuart Stadium, winning their fifth straight home game to remain the frontrunners for the NASL Spring Season title.

Danny Szetela’s first goal of the season was the Cosmos’ reward for controlling the play. In a must-win situation, the Cosmos would hold 75 percent of the possession and complete three times as many passes as their opponent.

“I think it was an important and deserved win for us, for what we put into the game,” Cosmos Head Coach Giovanni Savarese said. “I thought we had a lot of good moments in the first half, and we kept on battling. They were tough and very physical but we did a lot of good things.”

The Cosmos started Ruben Bover in midfield to replace the injured Niko Kranjčar. Bover played the full match and completed the most passes of any player.

Savarese said he was pleased with his midfield play throughout the match.

“We trust every player,” he said. “Bover, we know what he is capable of doing. He has the quality and the engine. Szetela is a little bit more stationary. He gives us good balance. I thought they worked out very well, and they did the same thing last week.”

The Cosmos midfield combined well with each other and got their wide players involved in the attack. Winger Yohandry Orozco had three shots in 67 minutes of action, including one from 25 yards that forced a diving save from Rayo goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes.

Sebastián Guenzatti assisted on Szetela’s goal in the 54th minute, but Fernandes stopped two of his chances to pad the Cosmos lead late in the second half.

“[In the] first half we got a little desperate because we couldn’t get in their box,” said Guenzatti. “When we came in at halftime, Gio told us to keep our heads and calm down because the balls were going to come to us. They did at the end.”

The Cosmos completed 518 passes with 87 percent accuracy. Their successful passing allowed them to dictate the tempo throughout the match. Szetela provided the vital breakthrough.

“It feels great, especially [scoring] the winning goal,” Szetela said of the victory. “For me, goals are always important. You always want to score, but it’s important that you’re on the field doing the best you can to help your team win.”

The result keeps the Cosmos atop the Spring Season Standings with 18 points, outpacing Indy Eleven and FC Edmonton by four points. New York can clinch the Spring title and a postseason spot with a win next Saturday. The Fort Lauderdale Strikers, who are unbeaten in their last four contests, will welcome the Cosmos to Lockhart Stadium for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff on June 4.

Before that, however, is a U.S. Open Cup match Wednesday, June 1, against Jersey Express of the Premier Development League. Savarese said he may need to balance his squad for both ties.

“Right now we have to see how the guys are feeling,” he said. “We have a lot of injuries and not many players available. We had 16 players in total for today so we have to see who we have available and who’s ready.”