News

Cosmos comeback to defeat New Amsterdam FC

Published Aug 21, 2020

The New York Cosmos overcame a one-goal deficit to register their first win of the season, a 3-1 victory over New Amsterdam FC in a National Independent Soccer Association match at the Hudson Sports Complex on Friday night.

The Cosmos played the final 33 minutes down a man after a stomping incident involving center back Emmanuele Sembroni and Daniel Vicente.

Cosmos COO Erik Stover noted, "the stomping incident by Emmanuelle Sembroni in tonight’s match is not consistent with the values of this club. We would like to apologize to New Amsterdam and Danny Vicente and wish Danny a speedy recovery.

NISA has a process for managing on field incidents and we have been notified that a review will be conducted. The Cosmos will not appeal the decision by the the NISA disciplinary committee."

New York (1-0-1, 4 points) moved into a first-place tie with Michigan Stars FC (1-0-1, 4), which hosts Detroit City FC on Saturday night, in the Eastern Division.

Matt Lewis and Bledi Bardic scored on either side of halftime and Aly Hassan added an insurance tally. Ansi Agolli set up the first and final goals.

Despite dominating the opening 20 minutes, the Cosmos conceded the first goal. Center back Lewis fouled Michael Bello in the box and New Amsterdam FC (0-1-0, 0) was awarded a penalty kick. Vicente fired a bullet into the upper right corner that goalkeeper Jesse Corke had no chance to stop in the 15th minute.

Lewis atoned for the foul in the 45th minute to knot things up at 1-1. After a New Amsterdam FC foul, Agolli started the sequence with a free kick some 40 yards out on the left side. He passed the ball to Darwin Espinal toward the corner and the forward sent a return feed to Agolli. The former Albanian national team captain floated in a perfect cross that an unmarked Lewis headed past goalkeeper Aldo Munoz from seven yards for his first goal this season.

Only 77 seconds into the second half, the Cosmos grabbed the lead off a turnover. Shavon John-Brown raced into the area and slotted a pass to his left to Bardic, who blasted an attempt from the top of area. New Amsterdam goalkeeper Laurence Girard, who replaced Munoz at halftime, got a hand on shot. However, the ball bounced once and into the net for a 2-1 advantage. Bardic has scored in both Cosmos matches.

Hassan, a second-half sub who missed last week's season opener due to his father's funeral, put the final touches on the win in the 88th minute. Another substitute, Sal Barone sent a through ball to Agolli on the left side. With Girard out of the net, Agolli fed Hassan, who scored into an empty goal, his first of the campaign, from 12 yards.

The Cosmos return to action against Detroit City FC at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. It will be a closed-door match, but fans can watch all the action at MyCujoo.