After the heavy rain on Saturday, the Scorpions and the New York Cosmos finally did battle on Sunday afternoon. The wind definitely stuck around and that was making any crosses or log balls difficult but it was New York who dealt well with conditions and won 2-1.
The Scorpions started the match well, seeing more of the ball and of the few chances created in the opening 15 minutes. But they couldn’t take full advantage as New York’s defense did enough to keep the Scorpions at bay.
As the half wore on the Cosmos got more and more in to the match, showing why they were sitting in a playoff position. But the Scorpions defense lived up to their opportunity to defend and did it well, cutting out the dangerous crosses to keep it scoreless.
Momentum swung back to the Scorpions in the latter stages of the half and in the 43rd minute Billy Forbes celebrated winning the Crocketteers Garrison (player of the year) award in perfect fashion. He muscled his way through, getting on the end of a through ball and slotted it past the keeper perfectly to give the Scorpions a 1-0 lead at half-time.
New York came out determined to hit a goal after the break but the Scorpions defense was proving strong. But aided by a tail wind, the Cosmos just kept on the attack and in the 62nd minute a penalty gave them the opportunity.
The penalty was taken by veteran, Marcos Senna and he used all that experience to send Daniel Fernandes the wrong way and score. Fernandes originally made a move to his left but opted to move right, allowing Senna to simply pass the ball in to the back of the net to Fernandes’ left.
The Scorpions felt aggrieved at the penalty award and they used the energy from that disappointment to go for the match. But playoff bound New York were looking to get in to some good form, with just one more round remaining before the playoffs.
In the 78th minute New York got that goal they were looking for as they received a free-kick opportunity in range. With Raul off the field, the opportunity came to Ayoze, who fooled everyone, curling it in to the back of the net with Fernandes moving well late.
It should have been three in the 87th minute as a missed clearance from the Scorpions allowed Andres Flores the opportunity. He was clean through with the keeper but his effort was off the post and then well saved by Fernandes, but it mattered little as the Cosmos still claimed the win.
Texas Soccer News 