When he holds the New York Cosmos' next training session, there are two vital items that will be at the top of head coach Carlos Mendes' list:

Better concentration at the end of games and working on converting set pieces.

He felt there was room for improvement after the Cosmos played New Amsterdam FC to a 1-1 draw in the NISA Independent Cup opener for both teams at the Hudson Sports Complex in Warwick, N.Y. on Sunday night.

The Cosmos conceded the equalizing goal 16 seconds into stoppage time after dominating a good portion of the match.

Michael Bello knotted things up after goalkeeper and New Amsterdam FC owner Laurence Girard started the scoring sequence with long punt. The ball ricocheted to a New Amsterdam player, who fed Bello. Bello split a pair of defenders and beat goalkeeper Jesse Corke.

"Obviously disappointed with getting the result with a tie late in the game, giving up a goal that soft," Mendes said. "We weren't prepared."

So, Mendes will remind his squad about keeping focus when the game is on the line.

"It's in terms of the way you train," he said. "You constantly remind guys that at this level you have to be tuned in and be prepared to play for any situation. If you fall asleep, there is always going to be moments in games that are difficult when the team doesn't have a rhythm and that's part of it, that we can control those little things and make it that much more difficult and not give up a soft goal like today. We'll continue to work. It was the first game for us. It's stuff to learn from and hopefully help grow and move forward and be more prepared for a full 90."

One big highlight for the Cosmos was Ansi Agolli's terrific free kick from the right side in the 27th minute in which he looped the ball over a two-man wall and past starting goalkeeper Mahamed Keita in the far corner.

"He's capable of doing a lot of things like that, so great goal," Mendes said. "I thought we could have done more with set pieces, taking more advantage. There were some good areas that were open that we didn't try to take advantage of. We need to work on that too and try to be more effective with those opportunities."

Mendes singled out midfielder Shavon John-Brown and center back Emmanuele Sembroni as having very good performances.

"Shavon was one of our best," he said. "He was dangerous going forward. He got tired toward the end, but defensively he was in really good spots, won the ball in real good spots and started the attack."

Sembroni "was solid at the back," Mendes added. The Italian defender made a key defensive play in the 83rd minute when he cleared a rolling ball off the line with the Cosmos clinging to their lead.

Mendes was hoping that midfielder Charlie Ledula's hamstring injury wasn't as severe as it looked. Ledula, forced from the game late in the first half, was replaced by Bledi Bardic.

"He felt his hamstring. It's an injury that you kind of know. Hopefully it's not as bad as he thinks or feels right now. It's something that we have to take a lot at and hopefully he recovers as fast as possible."

The Cosmos will travel down to Leesburg, Va. on Wednesday for their next two games of the competition.

On Thursday, Aug. 6, they will take FC Baltimore Christos at 8:45 p.m. before playing the Maryland Bobcats FC on Sunday, Aug. 9 at 7:35 p.m.

Both matches are scheduled for the Evergreen Sports Complex.

The Cosmos will open their National Independent Soccer Association fall season against the Michigan Stars at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m.

They will return to the Hudson Sports Complex to meet New Amsterdam SC in a regular season encounter on Friday, Aug. 21 at 8 p.m.

All matches will be behind closed doors but will be streamed on MyCujoo.