N.Y. Cosmos: Lost in San Francisco

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND SHIN KICKERS

SOCCER BOWL '17

N.Y. Cosmos    0

S.F. Deltas        2

New York Cosmos: Bid For Three-Peat Bogged Down By Deltas.

The New York Cosmos bid to win a third straight championship, and their fourth of the modern NASL era, ended in defeat Sunday night at San Francisco.

An improbable loss, considering the expansion San Francisco Deltas are now champions after their very first season of existence.  More so for Cosmos Country locals, considering the Cosmos finished the Spring session second in the league with 56 goals, then topped the Autumn session with 34 goals, yet fell to San Francisco two-nil.

They were made to play from behind early on.  San Francisco forward Tommy Heinemann converted a penalty kick at the 18:53 mark and the Deltas never looked back.  Frisco threatened again at the 59:40 mark when a centering pass was headed just wide/right of goal.  Then at 59:20, goalkeeper Jimmy Mauer made a huge stop from point blank range to keep the Cosmos within one.

New York forged ahead with fine chances inside the 76th and 77th minutes of play, but were ultimately turned away.

San Francisco sealed the victory with their second goal at the 4:38 mark of extra-time.  The game ending whistle sounded shortly thereafter.

*

The modern era NASL is a Division-II soccer league which began play in 2011, and has no affiliation with the original North American Soccer League.  Their desire to be sanctioned as a Division-I circuit compelled the NASL into taking issue against US Soccer over anti-trust matters.  In turn, US Soccer is now threatening to no longer sanction their Division-II status.  Barring a last minute agreement, the NASL appears under threat of folding.

N.Y. Cosmos: Futbol by the Boardwalk Opens for Business

From the desk of:  CONEY ISLAND FC

Futbol by the Boardwalk

FINAL

Cosmos     0

MiamiFC   3

NEW YORK COSMOS: Miami FC Spoils BKFC's Coney Island Home Opener.

Despite Miami FC's convincing three/nil victory, the lively atmosphere at MCU Park Saturday evening otherwise suggested the New York Cosmos first ever Brooklyn home opener went very well.

The game wasn't a complete sellout, but it was a full house nonetheless (considering the rather raw chilly weather along the beach).

The famous fanatical Five Points federation (La Banda, Cross Island Crew, Borough Boys) wasted no time planting their respective flags.  In short time commenced the lesson demonstrating exactly how extreme rooting in Cosmos Country gets done.  With their signature green smoke billowing from the bleachers, the chorus - replete with drums, a brass section, and spirits - broke into their evening long anthems.

Coney Island FC and Miami ended Saturday's first half tied at nil.  Unfortunately, the second half was no April Fool's joke.  There's just no real way of escaping their defensive zone negligence which repeatedly kept placing goal keeper Jimmy Maurer in very uncompromising positions.

The Cosmos are now scoreless through their first two games.

Defensive substitution Jimmy Mulligan drew an incontrovertible red in the second half after a pair of swift and misguided yellow card infractions.

Rechristened in 2010, the neo New York Cosmos captured the NASL championship during their initial return to action in 2013, and are presently the reigning back-to-back Soccer Bowl champions.

After previously playing their home games at Hofstra University from 2013 through 2016, the Cosmos are making Coney Island their new home sweet home.