RECAP | Silverbacks 0, Cosmos 0

The New York Cosmos and Atlanta Silverbacks battled to a scoreless draw during a rainy Saturday night at Atlanta Silverbacks Park on April 25.

For most of the game the Cosmos (2-2-0, eight points) controlled possession and dictated the pace, but the Silverbacks defense didn’t concede thanks to a handful of saves from goalkeeper Steward Ceus.

Cosmos forward Lucky Mkosana rattled a shot off the post in the 48th minute after a brilliant through ball by winger Walter Restrepo. Mkosana caused trouble for the Silverbacks back line throughout the game.

The Silverbacks were not without chances of their own on the offensive end, but they did come few and far between in the first half.

Silverbacks midfielder Kyle Porter was a frequent attacker down the flanks. He passed up a shot in the first half when it seemed he had enough space to test Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer, and was later denied by a sliding Carlos Mendes on a terrific hustle play in which the Cosmos were out-manned on a counterattack.  Porter was stopped again in the second half by Maurer on a tight angle in the box after a good through ball saw him in on net alone with the Cosmos goalkeeper.

Cosmos midfielder Marcos Senna produced the most dangerous moment of the first half as he unleashed a shot from deep in the midfield that dipped quickly near the goal and forced Ceus into a fine save to keep the match level.

Cosmos forward Raúl also conjured up some moments of near magic for the Cosmos, as he found Leonardo Fernandes in the box with a delicate chip. Fernandes controlled well with his chest, but was met by Silverbacks captain Simon Mensing to knock him off the ball and end another goal-scoring opportunity for the Cosmos.

With the draw, the New York Cosmos are still unbeaten (5-2-0) against the Atlanta Silverbacks in seven regular season matches since 2013. Next up for the Cosmos is Ottawa Fury FC on May 2. That match kicks off at 7 p.m. ET from Brooklyn’s MCU Park.