MATCH REPORT
The New York Cosmos secured a 2-0 victory over Corpus Christi FC, with goals from Lamin Jawneh and Ajmeer Spengler and a six-save performance from Tristan Stephani helping the Cosmos earn all three points on the road. Corpus Christi looked to apply pressure in the opening stages, but the Cosmos remained organized defensively and found the breakthrough in the 25th minute. Frankie Ljucovic helped create the opportunity for Jawneh, who finished to give the Cosmos a 1-0 advantage. Corpus Christi continued to search for a response, but Stephani was equal to the attempts that reached his goal. The Cosmos back line of Stalyn Acosta, Anderson Holt, Michael Chilaka and Néstor Cabrera also stood firm as New York carried its one-goal advantage into halftime.
Corpus Christi made a change at the break, introducing Tomas Pondeca, and continued to push for an equalizer in the second half. The hosts finished the night with six shots on target, but Stephani denied all six to preserve the clean sheet. The Cosmos made their first changes in the 66th minute, with Anges Bohui replacing Christian Koffi and Massimo Morabito coming on for Cabrera. Ten minutes later, New York doubled its advantage. Ozzie Ramos set up Spengler, who found the back of the net in the 76th minute to make it 2-0. Darren Sidoel and Nick Zielonka entered shortly afterward, before Sergio Chavez replaced Jawneh in the 85th minute as the Cosmos looked to see out the result. Corpus Christi continued to threaten late, but New York’s defensive effort held firm, finishing the match with 44 clearances while Stephani completed the shutout. The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 victory and three points for the Cosmos.
MATCH DETAILS
CORPUS CHRISTI FC 0-2 NEW YORK COSMOS
NEW YORK COSMOS (4-2-3-1): Stephani; Acosta, Holt, Chilaka, Cabrera; Ljucovic, Ramos; Koffi, Spengler, Jawneh; Guenzatti. Subs: Bohui (66′ Koffi), Morabito (66′ Cabrera), Sidoel (78′ Ljucovic), Zielonka (78′ Guenzatti), Chavez (85′ Jawneh). Unused Subs: Milovanov, Garcia, Galazzini.
CORPUS CHRISTI FC (4-4-2): Talbot; Gomez, Roscoe, Kearney, Langlois; Bowen, Kwakwa, Medina, Abeal Pou; Keegan, Cerritos. Subs: Pondeca (45′ Cerritos), Bachstein (61′ Abeal Pou), Johnson (78′ Kwakwa). Unused Subs: Hamid, Shalita, Parks, Thomas, McCready, Barganski.
Goals: 25′ Jawneh (COS), 76′ Ajmeer Spengler (COS).
Booked: 9′ Jawneh (COS), 59′ Gomez (CCFC), 89′ Roscoe (CCFC), 89′ Sidoel (COS), 90’+2 Stephani (COS), 90’+4 Chavez (COS).
