MATCH REPORT
The Cosmos had the better of the early possession as they looked to establish themselves on the road, but clear chances were difficult to come by through the opening stages. The first breakthrough finally arrived in the 44th minute. Shamit Shome found Lamin Jawneh, who finished to give the Cosmos a 1-0 advantage. New York struck again before Fort Wayne could reach the break. In the second minute of first-half stoppage time, Ajmeer Spengler provided the service for Sergio Chavez, who found the back of the net to double the advantage and send the Cosmos into halftime leading 2-0.
The Cosmos wasted no time adding to their lead after the restart. In the 47th minute, Spengler picked up his second assist of the night, this time setting up Sebastián Guenzatti to make it 3-0. Fort Wayne responded in the 66th minute when substitute Ryan Becher pulled one back to cut the deficit to two. The Cosmos answered just five minutes later. Shome connected with Jawneh once again, and the forward finished in the 71st minute for his second goal of the night, restoring the three-goal advantage at 4-1. Fort Wayne added a second from the penalty spot through Clarence Awoudor in the second minute of stoppage time, but there was no way back for the hosts as the Cosmos closed out a 4-2 victory and secured all three points on the road.
MATCH DETAILS
FORT WAYNE FC 2-4 NEW YORK COSMOS
FORT WAYNE FC (4-4-2): Schipmann; Rempel, Dias, Sproat, Neidlinger; Thomas, Armas, Jordan II, Gafar; Lacey, Healy. Subs: Becher (46′ Lacey), Awoudor (67′ Jordan II), Oyetunde (67′ Gafar), Musa (72′ Dias), Nieto (81′ Armas). Subs not used: Hagaman, Echevarria, Smith, Burns.
NEW YORK COSMOS (4-2-3-1): Garcia; Cabrera, Holt, Chavez, Milovanov; Ramos, Shome; Ljucovic, Spengler, Jawneh; Guenzatti. Subs: Chilaka (46′ Cabrera), Zielonka (67′ Ramos), Galazzini (90’+3 Jawneh), Mendonca (90’+3 Ljucovic). Subs not used: Del Valle, Koffi, Tino Puentes.
Goals: 44′ Jawneh (COS), 45’+2 Chavez (COS), 47′ Guenzatti (COS), 66′ Becher (FW), 71′ Jawneh (COS), 90’+2 pen. Awoudor (FW).
Booked: 21′ Cabrera (COS), 28′ Jordan II (FW), 34′ Ramos (COS), 50′ Rempel (FW), 52′ Chavez (COS), 74′ Armas (FW).
