COSMOS PLAY FORT LAUDERDALE STRIKERS TO A 1-1 DRAW
Cosmos earn a road draw versus Strikers team down to 10 men
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (July 26, 2014) – The New York Cosmos earned a hard-fought point with a 1-1 draw on the road at Fort Lauderdale on Saturday night against a tireless Strikers squad that fell to 10 men following a red card to Ronaldo Vieira in the 39th minute.
The Cosmos started off with a tenacity similar to which they displayed during their previous 1-0 victory over Ottawa Fury FC last Sunday afternoon.
Forward Jemal Johnson scored the lone goal for the Cosmos in the sixth minute of play, angling a header off a lifted ball from striker Hans Denissen past Strikers goalkeeper Kamil Contofalsky just outside the six-yard box.
“I think that was the second ball he touched in the game, and he was able to make a great pass and Jemal scored a great goal,” Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese said. “When we are able to create these situations, we just have to be better at putting away opportunities to win.
Striker Jenison Brito responded with the equalizer for Fort Lauderdale in the 24th minute on a penalty shot earned after Cosmos defender Ayoze was booked for a hand ball inside the penalty area.
“I do believe the referee had the right to call the PK in that situation,” said Savarese. “We are disappointed for sure. I think we definitely should’ve found a way to take back three points. Today a tie feels more like a loss.”
The goal for the Brazilian was his first in the NASL and halted a 204-minute goalless streak for the Strikers to start the Fall season. In the Spring season, Fort Lauderdale led the league in goals scored with 18.
Fort Lauderdale lost the services of 23-year old Ronaldo Vieira after being handed a straight red card in the 39th minute on an ill-advised boots up challenge on midfielder Danny Szetela. Despite yielding a man-down disadvantage for over 51 minutes, the second half opportunities were owned primarily by the Strikers.
In the 77th minute, midfielder Manny Gonzalez delivered a strike on a free kick that was narrowly redirected by Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer.
“Once they scored the [penalty kick], then the game became a bit more complicated,” Savarese said. “They started attacking us a bit more, but we were still very organized and controlled the match. We could’ve done much better.
Maurer was called upon by his team to make multiple saves, if not alter potential goal-scoring opportunities throughout the second half. In the 81st minute, defender Darnell King juked and shook his way inside the penalty area, but his shot at the go-ahead goal for Fort Lauderdale (0-1-2) went begging in part due to a well-played angle from Maurer and the defense.
Prior to Gonzalez’s attempt, New York had an opportunity to gain back the lead in the 61st minute when striker Mads Stokkelien maneuvered his way into the penalty area, but Contofalsky was able to sprawl for the save and keep the score level.
In stoppage time, the Cosmos once again pushed the tempo, but were stymied from a last-minute victory by Contofalsky and the Fort Lauderdale defense which retreated to self-preservation mode during the final moments to secure a point.
The consistency of the offense stuttered a bit following the goal in the sixth minute, but notably, the play of Denissen and Johnson continues to improve. Both are still working themselves back into full game shape after battling injuries throughout the spring season. Both players made their return in last Sunday’s win at Ottawa.
“I thought we were doing very well in the beginning,” Savarese said. “We know what they can give us. “
The Cosmos (1-1-1) will next host the Carolina RailHawks on August 2nd to begin a two-game home stretch before traveling to Atlanta on August 9.
