Spengler PK Hat Trick Leads Cosmos to 3-2 Victory over Charlotte Independence

(Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson, NJ)

The Cosmos played their first night game of the season in front of 1,170 spectators in Paterson, New Jersey looking for their second consecutive victory.

The Cosmos lined up with the same eleven from the match against Fort Wayne. This time the 5-3-2 formation look more like a 4-3-3 formation as Italian right wing-back Davide Galazzini would play primarily as a right winger. The Cosmos got off to a quick start in the match as defender Will Noecker was tripped just inside the box in the 5th, leading Muhammad Kaleia to point to the spot. Ajmeer Spengler would step to the spot and deliver the ball past Charlotte keeper Matt Levy helping Cosmos to a 1-0 lead in the 6th minute. The Independence responded quickly as Viggo Ortiz would find space outside the box and deliver a spectacular strike into the top corner in the 13th minute to level the match at 1-1. Charlotte would start to gain momentum after the equalizer; however, things would change in the 20th minute when Christian Koffi was brought down in the box, Spengler would once again step up and convert his second penalty of the night as Cosmos would take a 2-1 lead. The Cosmos were forced to make a substitution in the 24th minute, as Darren Sidoel appeared to suffer a hamstring injury and was replaced by Marquette product Justin Milovanov. The Cosmos would have a great opportunity to extend the lead in the 27th minute when Christian Koffi did well to find Davide Galazzini in the box, but the Italian was unable to convert. After a few opportunities for both sides, the Cosmos would be forced to make another substitution in injury time as Davey Mason would be replaced by Massimo Morabito. In injury time Koffi would be disposed of the ball, which would lead to a yellow card foul by Justin Milovanov. The Independence would capitalize and on the ensuing play, the set piece would lead to Jefferson Amaya striking a volley from outside the area past Derrek Chan as both sides would go into the half tied at 2.

The second half would begin with both sides having solid chances, in the 57th minute Derrek Chan would come up big for Cosmos, making a terrific save after a turnover by Galazzini. In the 59th minute it appeared that Cosmos had broken through after Spengler found Galazzini, who would shoot the ball past Levy. However, the offside flag would go up, much to the dismay of the Cosmos faithful. Things would change in the 75th minute when Cosmos defender Will Noecker would be issued a red card on a dubious call. The defender appeared to get all ball on the tackle but Kaleia would see differently. When it looked like the Cosmos would bunker down and play for a draw, Christian Koffi would use his skill to maneuver into the box and was brought down by Reudd Manin, Spengler would once again step to the spot. The Tampa native would once again convert against his youth soccer rival Levy as the Cosmos would take an improbable 3-2 lead in the 81st minute.

The Cosmos would make defensive adjustments, being down a man and looking to maintain the lead. In the 86th minute they would bring fresh legs into the match, bringing in Nestor Cabrera for Spengler, Tino Puentes for Guenzatti and Nick Zielonka for Koffi. The team would hold on after 5 minutes of stoppage time to record an impressive 3-2 victory over Charlotte.

The Cosmos showed great character, being able to remain composed after the dubious red card to Noecker. The combination of Koffi and Spengler continued to cause all sorts of difficulty to the Cosmos opponents. Spengler, in particular, is playing at an All-League level, as he has been involved in 7 of the Cosmos 9 goals during the first five matches of the season. Coach Davide Corti is happy with the team’s progress over the last two matches, particularly the 3-2 victory over a previously unbeaten Independence side. A side that was coming off of a 3-2 victory on Tuesday over USL Championship side Charleston Battery in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

With 15 days in between matches, New York will look to make any needed corrections, and hope to recover Davey Mason and Darren Sidoel who suffered hamstring injuries in time for the April 19th match against Forward Madison. In addition, the Cosmos will be sending a formal complaint to league office in hopes of over-turning the red that was issued to Will Noecker. Replay evidence clearly shows that Noecker made a clean tackle on the play that led to his ejection.

NEW YORK COSMOS (5-3-2): Chan; Mason (49′ Morabito), Holt, Chavez, Noecker; Galazzini, Mendonca, Koffi (86′ Zielonka); Sidoel (24′ Milovanov), Guenzatti (86′ Puentes), Spengler (86′ Cabrera). Subs: Morabito, Zielonka, Milovanov, Puentes, Cabrera, Backus, Stephani. Coach: Corti.

CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE (4-2-3-1): Levy; Romero, Manin, Nare (42′ Lyons), Dimick; Alvarez, Amaya (84′ Bakero); Jaime, Martinez, Ortiz; Guffroy (72′ Nyandjo). Subs: Lyons, Bakero, Nyandjo. Coach: Mike Jeffries.

Goals: 6′ Spengler (C) (Pen), 13′ Ortiz (CLT), 22′ Spengler (C) (Pen), 45+8′ Amaya (CLT), 81′ Spengler (C) (Pen).