RECAP | Indy 1, Cosmos 1

Indy Eleven and the visiting New York Cosmos played to a 1-1 draw in front of a sold out crowd of 10,524 at IUPUI's Michael A. Carroll Stadium on Saturday evening.

Indy Eleven forward Brian Brown opened the scoring a dozen minutes in, but saw his tally countered in the 65th minute by New York forward Raúl.

After failing to lead the Cosmos for even a minute during last year’s three contests, Indy Eleven would go ahead on an opportunistic goal by newcomer Brian Brown in the 12th minute. Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer wandered five yards out of his penalty area to head away a through ball, but his clearance made it only as far as Brown, who took a touch before looping a ball into the empty net from 30 yards out.

Defender Roversio would have the first quality chance for New York just minutes after the Indy goal, but Eleven goalkeeper Kristian Nicht was on the spot to save his header.  Indy had a chance to double up in the 25th minute through Dylan Mares, but Maurer would be up to the task, diving low to bat away an effort destined for the far left post.

As the first half wore on the visitors would carry the bulk of the possession, if not always converting it into quality offensive chances. That would change when New York evened things up the 65th minute, and it was superstar striker Raúl doing the deed. His header from inside the six-yard box off of Ayoze’s cross from a short corner evened the match at 1-1. 

Indy Eleven’s best chance to go back on top came in the 78th minute, when a quick counter through substitute defender Kyle Hyland and Brown made its way to a streaking Charlie Rugg, whose contested shot from 15 yards out sailed over the crossbar. New York had a golden chance to go up with just 90 seconds in regulation remaining when Lucky Mkosana got on the end of Marcos Senna’s driven free ball into the area, but the Zimbabwean steered his header right at Nicht on his line.