Photo by Mike Gramajo/Soccer By Ives
By IVES GALARCEP
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.– With the legends of the club’s historic past in attendance, the newly-reborn New York Cosmos kicked off their first season of action in almost three decades with a memorable finish that had a touch of flavor of Cosmos teams of the past.
Much as the late Giorgio Chinaglia used to help bail out the original Cosmos with timely goals during the 70s, an Italian striker played the role of Cosmos hero yet again, with Alessandro Noselli scoring a goal in the second minute of second-half stoppage time to help give the Cosmos a 2-1 victory over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at James M. Shuart Stadium on Saturday night.
On a night when Pele, Carlos Alberto and Shep Messing starred in pre-game ceremonies, A lively sellout crowd of 11,929 helped usher in the return of the Cosmos with an energetic atmosphere that helped the home team dominate the Strikers for much of the night. Only some outstanding goalkeeper from FC Dallas loanee Richard Sanchez kept Fort Lauderdale in the match, while a second-half equalizer from Walter Restrepo threatened to help the Strikers escape New York with a draw.
Noselli changed that with the flick of his foot. The 60th-minute substitute showed the quality that made him the leading scorer in Serie B when he slipped behind a Strikers defender and got a foot on a high ball to beat Sanchez in the match’s final seconds.
The Cosmos debuted standouts such as Spanish midfielders Marcos Senna and Ayozi, who both flashed there quality at times against a Strikers side that played a physical match featuring plenty of fouls and hard challenges.
New York opened the scoring just before halftime, when an Ayozi corner kick was headed down toward Sanchez, who was beaten to the ball by a streaking Marosevic, who finished the chance to make it 1-0.
The second half saw the Cosmos push for more chances, and they finished the match having generated eight shots on goal to two by the Strikers. One of those two Strikers shots tied the match, with Restrepo equalizing when he beat Cosmos goalkeeper Kyle Reynish to a high ball, heading it home to make the score 1-1 in the 73rd minute.
The Cosmos looked like they might be forced to settle for the draw before Noselli intervened. The newly-signed striker came off the bench in the 60th minute and paid immediate dividends in his NASL debut, slotting home from close range in the 92nd minute of the match.
Hopefully MLS goes 26 to 28 teams and NASL around the same number, with west and east conferences. Once MLS and NASL start talking, lets give our league a new soccer name and pyramid, while uslpro stays as division3. Lets do it America!!!
I’he been to about a half dozen MLS games as well as Prem, Champions League, LA Liga and World Cup so I’ve seen various levels of play. I didn’t see much difference between that and MLS. I’m not saying it was MLS level but I would say it wasn’t as wide a gap as many would expect.
I don’t see a bottom of the table MLS squad blowing the Cosmos out.
I’ve seen USL games, look better then what I saw last night. The gap between MLS and NASL is huge, and that game was an example. Pele couldn’t take it any more, he got out of there before the post game. He has a habit of being honest with reporters, which is why he bolted. The only bottom team the Cosmos would beat is Chivas, even DC United with their new additions would destroy the Cosmos.
When do we start the “There’s only one team in New York” chant?
ysterday
You are in Long Island , yes it’s NY state yet even though we are in Nj we still are closer to 5 boroughs than you .You forgot about the Rhinos…
you are the only team in town for 16 years why the hell do you lot care it doesn’t matter if your smack dab in Manhattan once Red Bull killed your club it was over
I’m not quite sure you understand geography. Nassau County BORDERS Queens County. New Jersey is on the other side of a river, connected to Staten Island and Manhattan with bridges. What are you even talking about?
I was there as well and was interested in the quality of play. While there were some terrible challenges and a few instances of bad service into the box, I have been to a number of MLS games and the overall level of play was not that dissimilar to a TorontoFC v Chivas game.
Senna showed some quality and I could easily see this team hanging with a tyoical MLS side.
NEW YORK IS GREEN AND WHITE!!!
McQ,
Sorry but I have to disagree. From top to bottom,…the whole show seemed second rate. The level of play was pretty low. Senna and Freeman were a step above everyone else on the field. Beyond that,…it was a good Cosmopolitan Soccer League game.
NY Cosmos to register their first loss on Saturday at the Rowdies.
The Tampa Rowdies to dominate NASL in the fall.
Nasl might be 2nd divisIon quality right now but their goal and ambitIon is first division. So stay tuned.
The NASL will remain a second Division league. Many of the NASL owners lack the capital to compete as a first division league. That came out of the horses mouth, listen to soccermourning interview with the NASL commissioner, Bill Peterson. Its on Kicktvtalk, on youtube. The MLS makes 500 million a year, thats 30 million a club,however the owner’s still take a lost, because being a first division league cost. The NASL have no TV deal, and most likely never will, because who would invest in a second division league.Not to mention most NASL clubs, lack academy systems in place, to challnege an ever growing MLS academy.
That Noselli really has a nose for goal!
Highlights would be great to see, but from what I caught of the SNY production, or One World Sports, whomever did it, it looked good. 11-12k fans is impressive, and that’s about all they could fit into that stadium, right? Supporters groups, tifo, looks pretty good for a first game. Would be great to see a Red Bulls-Cosmos friendly.
How and when the Cosmos ever come to MLS is an open question though, since I doubt the league will take them in before NYCFC launches in 2015, and how much time after that launch would have to go by before Garber allows a 3rd NYC team.
Pretty simple,….if they build a soccer specific stadium in Belmont Park and they pony up the franchise fee,…they will absolutely be in MLS. It is a pity that MLS didn’t a better job initially with the Cosmos brand. Not for nothing,…but the NASL got a lot right when it came to the branding,…Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps, New York Cosmos, Wahington Diplomats, LA Aztecs, Tulsa Roughnecks, Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Compare to Dallas Burn, Kansas City Wiz, San Jose Clash (!!!), Real Salt Lake, Tampa Bay Mutiny, New York Metrostars,…..etc., etc., etc.
I was there. Clearly 2nd Division level of play, but a lot of fun! (which, really, is the point)
Are there video highlights from last night?
EmpireofSoccer put some up!
http://www.empireofsoccer.com/highlights-new-york-cosmos-2-1-ft-lauderdale-strikers/
Great start Cosmos!
The season is long and arduous so enjoy it one game at a time
I’ll be interested to see how Cosmos draw attendance wise once the initial shine has worn of just a bit. Hope the NASL continues to grow as a league
Who are you kidding? 11K fans? MLS time. NYC3!!! NYC3!!! NYC3!!! NYC3!!! NYC3!!! NYC3!!!
This is a big deal in U.S. soccer. Too bad the Euro snobs are too busy thumbing their noses at Clint Dempsey to notice.
Please. Eurosnobs noticed. This isn’t MLS.
Perfect night, perfect reboot. Fans were incredible, and it was a sell out! I can only see good things coming in the future. Stay tuned for slowleftarm’s trolling of this club and article.
Plenty of empty seats and of course for “the most valuable brand in US Soccer” and “the team that’s too good for MLS” should sell out a tiny college stadium for their first game right? Hempstead Cosmos are headed straight for the scrapheap of history.
Damn that felt as good as I thought it would.
What are you talking about? There wasn’t a spare seat in the house! That, or you were watching the first 10 minutes or so before the fans really started trickling in. Traffic was hell.
This is a good start for the reboot Cosmos.