News

Cosmos Draw 2-2 Against North Carolina

New York adds eighth game to unbeaten run against NCFC
Published Jun 10, 2017
The New York Cosmos drew 2-2 against North Carolina FC in a thriller of a match Saturday afternoon at MCU Park in Brooklyn.
 
“I thought we did a lot of good things today, especially in the first half,” said Head Coach and Sporting Director, Giovanni Savarese. “Towards the second half we became tired, but sometimes we have to see the positive side and the positive side is that we found a goal that gave us a point today.”
 
Cosmos forward, Eugene Starikov, got his first start for the club, as well as the Cosmos' first attempt, sending a header wide of the target in the 6th minute. Irvin Herrera opened the scoring one minute later, finishing an Ayoze cross with great precision, tallying his second goal in as many games for New York and putting the hosts ahead in the 7th minute.
 
North Carolina tested goalkeeper, Jimmy Maurer, consistently right after Herrera’s goal. The Cosmos shot-stopper made several saves before the visitors managed to put in the equalizer. A Billy Schuler right-footed volley in the 11th minute from outside the box leveled the score. New York tried to respond right away, pressing forward through Ayoze, whose shot went off the side netting in the 14th minute.
 
The hosts had an opportunity to retake the lead in the 24th minute when Herrera found Starikov, but his resulting shot from the center of the box went wide. Herrera went for a brace shortly  after but was caught offside. The Cosmos soon unlocked North Carolina's defense, with Herrera testing goalkeeper, Brian Sylvestre. Midfielder, Walter Restrepo, kept the pressure on, adding a mighty effort at the near post in the 34th minute.
 
The game remained even, as the visitors challenged Maurer in the 38th minute. The Cosmos keeper came through, denying Lance Laing from close range. However, Laing put North Carolina ahead in the 45th minute through a free kick, bending his shot past New York's wall and into the net.
 
Both teams kept moving forward in the second half. Cosmos midfielder, Javi Márquez, tried to equalize the match in the 53rd minute with a left-footed shot from the center of the box. North Carolina forced Maurer to punch clear in the 55th minute as New York continued to press in the final third. Midfielder, Andrés Flores, had a go at the net in the 61st minute. An excellent cross from Mulligan two minutes later found the Salvadoran, but his shot from a tight angle failed to test Sylvestre.
 
An 83rd minute attempt by Herrera was blocked in the box, after which the subbed-in Kalif Alhassan got on the scoreboard, putting in his first goal for the Cosmos in the 2017 NASL Spring Season to tie the game in the 84th minute. The Ghanaian lifted the ball into the back of the net with an artful chip. New York were hungry for more, creating danger through Márquez in the 86th. The third minute of stoppage time gave Márquez the last opportunity of the match, but Sylvestre punched the free kick clear, ending the game 2-2.
 
Kalif Alhassan was named Emirates Man of the Match, as New York extended their unbeaten run against NCFC to eight consecutive games.
 
The Cosmos end their three-game home stand with a face-off against Puerto Rico FC on Friday, June 16 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, click here.