Cosmos drop USL Cup tilt to Brooklyn FC (0-3)
- Emilio Lopez
- Apr 25
- 4 min read
(Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson, NJ)
The Cosmos made their debut in the Prinx Tires USL Cup on another rainy day in Paterson in front of 1,040 spectators. This match would also be the first between Cosmos and new USL Championship side Brooklyn FC.
During the week the club’s supporters’ groups engaged in back and forth banter as both sides were looking for bragging rights in the NY/NJ football landscape. A traveling contingent of the BKFCWarriors arrived in Paterson to help provide atmosphere as the Cosmos 5 Points Supporters groups looked to inspire the Cosmos.
The Cosmos started the match with three changes to the previous lineup. Boris Del Valle, the Cosmos goalkeeper coach and third-string keeper, would make his professional debut in goal, replacing Tristan Stephani, after Stephani’s shaky start the prior week and as Derrek Chan remained out due to injury, Massimo Morabito would replace Tino Puentes at left back, and Nick Zielonka, would start at right wing in place of Davide Galazinni. The Cosmos would start the match in a 4-3-3 formation. The match would start with both teams feeling each other out, and in the 3rd minute the Cosmos would have the first chance of the match, Ajmeer Spengler would find Zielonka on the right side of the field, but the forward would fire the shot over the bar. Brooklyn FC would start to take control of the midfield, as Malik Pinto, So Nishikawa, and Taimu Okiyoshi would start to dictate the play. Cosmos keeper Boris Del Valle would do well in the 17th and 22nd minute, making two quality saves to keep the score at 0. In transition Christian Koffi would help set up a Spengler shot leading to a corner kick. On the ensuing kick, Jordan Chavez would find himself alone in the box and fire a shot on goal, with Lukas Burns doing well to thwart the Cosmos attack. At this point the match was played on even footing. The Cosmos had another clear opening as Nick Zielonka would find himself free in space, with Guenzatti following him in the attack, however Zielonka’s pass to Guenzatti would be played behind him, and Brooklyn would be able to thwart the chance. The breakthrough would come for Brooklyn FC in the 35th minute, Obregon would start the play which eventually would find Callum Ferguson on the right side, his cross would he headed in by Obregon from close range to the center of goal. Del Valle would have some difficulty on the play as Obregon would beat him to the ball. Brooklyn would double the lead in the 39th minute, after a cleared cross by the Cosmos would find Gabriel Alves in the box, the Sao Paulo, Brazil native would take advantage and fire a left footed shot from the center of the box to the center of the goal, Del Valle would get his hands on the ball before it would deflect in. The Brooklyn fans would react in jubilation as the Brooklyn side would take a 2-0 lead. In the 43rd minute, on a play where it appeared Koffi was fouled, the play would proceed and Peter Mangione would find Abdoulaye Kante outside the box, the Pontoise, France native would find the bottom right corner for his first goal in the United States, as Brooklyn FC would take a commanding 3-0 lead. The Cosmos would have a chance to make it 1-3 before the half but would be thwarted by the Brooklyn defense.
The second half would begin with the same 22 that started the match. Brooklyn would control more of the play and Cosmos would get a few quality saves by Del Valle to keep the match at 0-3. Julien Lacher would replace Nick Zielonka in the 65th minute, as the attacker appeared to injure himself. Christian Koffi would have a good chance on goal after a nice feed by Ajmeer Spengler. In the 72nd minute the Cosmos would bring in Nestor Cabrera and Davey Mason for Nick Mendonca and Jordan Chavez, as at this point it appeared Coach Corti was thinking of the upcoming match against Hearts of Pine. In the 80th minute Leo Guarino and Patrick Bohui would come in for Milovanov and Koffi. Davey Mason would find himself in on goal in the late stages of the match, but was indecisive as Brooklyn would thwart the attack. In the 90th minute Nestor Cabrera would pick up a second yellow and be issued his marching orders. After three added minutes, Brooklyn FC would claim a three-goal victory over the Cosmos, and walk away with local bragging rights.
After the match, Cosmos coach Davide Corti would comment on the difference between the two sides and note the efficiency of Brooklyn in front of goal, he also indicated that the switch back to a 4-3-3 was due to some players not being available due to injury. With lessons learned, the Cosmos will focus on getting a result on the road against Portland Hearts of Pine.
New York Cosmos (4-3-3): Del Valle; Morabito, Holt, Chavez (72′ Mason), Noecker; Mendonca (72′ Cabrera), Milovanov (79’ Guarino), Spengler; Koffi (79’ Bohui), Guenzatti,Zielonka (66’ Lacher).Subs: Galazinni, Stephani, Materazzi, Materazzi, Backus. Coach: Corti.
Brooklyn FC (4-3-3): Burns; Frogson (65’ Latinovich), Romeo, Vancaeyezeele, Alves; Okiyoshi, Pinto, Nishikawa (70′ Servania); Kante (65’ Anderson), Obregon (84′ McNamara), Mangione (69′ Hundal).Subs: Lee, McNamara, Olney Jr. Coach: Marlon Leblanc.
Goals: 35′ Obregon (BFC), 39′ Alves (BFC), 43′ Kante (BFC).
Match Stats:
Possession: Cosmos 44.7% – Brooklyn 55.3%
Shots: Cosmos 13 – Brooklyn 19
Shots on Target: Cosmos 4 – Brooklyn 8
Corners: Cosmos 4 – Brooklyn 5
Saves: Cosmos 5 – Brooklyn 4
Yellow Cards: Cosmos 4 – Brooklyn 2
Comments