Photo by New York Cosmos
By COLE KELLOGG
Minnesota United and the New York Cosmos have now effectively turned around their fall seasons, ending week nine in NASL’s second and fourth spots, respectively.
An all-star performance from Leo Fernandes was precisely what the Cosmos needed to fire themselves past the Carolina RailHawks.
Minnesota United posted a win on the road over a struggling Tampa Bay Rowdies side, heaping on the misery with the third loss for the Florida team this week.
With the Ottawa Fury having the weekend off, top sides had the chance to gain ground on the offensive Canadian side. But the Atlanta Silverbacks were only able to draw at home against a lowly Indy Eleven side, and FC Edmonton lost in the Florida heat to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
Here’s a closer look at this weekend’s results:
SILVERBACKS SETTLE FOR DRAW WITH INDY AT HOME
The Atlanta Silverbacks came back from an early deficit to draw Indy Eleven, 1-1, at home on Saturday.
Indy Eleven jumped into a surprising lead just six minutes into Saturday’s match. New York Red Bulls loanee Dane Richards blasted home the penalty that resulted from a Silverbacks handball.
But the game turned on its head for the Eleven in the 50th minute, when Erick Norales received a straight red for clear denial of a goal scoring opportunity.
In the 76th minute, the Silverbacks scored the equalizer. Jaime Chavez sprinted to the end line to flick a ball into danger, and Eleven defender Greg Janicki deflected the ball into his own net.
Just moments later in the 77th minute, the Silverbacks’ Simon Mensing was sent off for a second yellow, but the result stood.
COSMOS HAND RAILHAWKS FOURTH STRAIGHT LOSS
The Carolina RailHawks suffered another loss this weekend, as the New York Cosmos won, 3-1, on the road.
Daniel Scott gave hope to the RailHawks, though, heading home from a corner for a goal in the 16th minute.
It wouldn’t be until the second-half that the Cosmos would answer that goal. Leo Fernandes equalized for his side in the 46th minute. Hunter Freeman whipped a cross into danger, and Fernandes slotted it home after Andres Flores Mejia’s touch.
The match did not stay level for long, as Lucky Mkosana put the Cosmos ahead in the 54th minute with a fantastic goal. Fernandes put in a brilliant cross from deep on the left flank, and Mkosana lost his man in the box and met the ball with an outstretched leg to fire his team in front.
In the 57th minute, Adam Moffat heaped on the grief for the RailHawks, putting home a loose ball in the box. Walter Restrepo sprinted into the area and found Fernandes with a low cross, but the goalkeeper saved his effort. Mejia retrieved the ball and picked out Moffat at the top of the box for the goal.
MINNESOTA UNITED PUT THREE PAST ROWDIES
In the space of one week, the Tampa Bay Rowdies lost three games, their head coach and their general manager.
The Rowdies lost, 3-1, at home to Minnesota United on Saturday.
A goal in the 28th minute from Juan Guerra gave the Rowdies hope for a result, as Georgi Hristov found his eighth assist of the year for the 1-0 lead.
United drew level in the 36th minute as Kalif Alhassan drifted through the midfield and picked out Ibson.
In the 65th minute, Ibson turned provider as he found Justin Davis for the go-ahead strike. Daniel Mendes topped off the win in injury time for United’s big road result.
SCORPIONS NARROWLY BEAT ARMADA AT HOME
The San Antonio Scorpions posted a 1-0 home victory over the Jacksonville Armada on Saturday night.
Billy Forbes scored his fourth goal of 2015 to give the Scorpions three points. In the 64th minute, Tyler Gibson ran the ball deep down the center of the field before putting a through ball in for Forbes on the right. Forbes ran in towards goal and fired a shot low and past Jacksonville’s keeper for the winner.
The win was the first for the Scorpions in six matches, as the Armada were unable to win their third in a row.
STRIKERS POST AWAY WIN OVER EDMONTON
FC Edmonton could not manage a victory that could have seen it within a point of the Fury, losing 2-0 in Canada to the Strikers. A brace from Stefano Pinho did the job for the home team.
Pinho got things started in the 58th minute, scoring a penalty after Kareem Moses fouled him in the box.
The Brazilian added his second just moments before the end of the match, scoring his ninth goal of the season in the 86th minute. Pinho struck home a ball that the Eddies’ defenders could not get out of danger to secure three points for his side.