RECAP | Cosmos 1, Fury FC 0

The New York Cosmos utilized a blistering attack in the first half to engineer a 1-0 victory over visiting Ottawa Fury FC in front of 5,279 at MCU Park in Brooklyn. It was the Cosmos' first ever match in Brooklyn.

“We need to close when we play at home,” head coach Giovanni Savarese said. “We pressured high, and they had a little trouble in the first half. When we had the ball we were able to find the spaces and create a lot of interesting chances. We tried to do the same thing in the second half, but we knew they were going to come out strong.

“I think the players that came in for them were good players that created some difficulties for us. But I’m glad we kept them scoreless. [Jimmy] Maurer had a nice save in the second half as well. Getting this win was important to us."

Lucky Mkosana scored the lone goal off a through ball from Leo Fernandes, while Ottawa goalkeeper Romuald Peiser dove in vain. The goal was Mkosana’s first of the season.

The NASL-leading Cosmos remain unbeaten on the season after improving their record to 3W-2D-0L. New York’s unbeaten streak is currently the longest to open a season in the NASL Modern Era.

Prior to the Mkosana tally Fernandes, Daniel Szetela, and center back Samuel Caceres each had chances to score.

In the 32nd minute, Walter Restrepo sent a ball in from the corner that found its way through a wide-open goalmouth, but Ottawa's defense cleared. Three minutes later, Szetela found space outside of the penalty area, but his shot from distance flew high of the goal.

Ottawa (1W-1D-3L) was unable to develop much of an attack in the first half, but the final 45 minutes were a different story.

Cosmos goalkeeper and NASL Player of the Month, Jimmy Maurer, was untested in the first half, but Fury FC forced Maurer into action on multiple occasions in the second half. 

Fury FC’s best chance to equalize came in the 59th minute as Maurer came up with a big save on a one-time attempt by Andrew Wiedeman. The goalkeeper lined himself up perfectly, and was able to knock down the attempt and corralled the ball into safety.

The shutout for Mauer was his fourth of the season, and his 17th in his career to move him into a tie for the top spot with Jeff Attinella on the all-time list in the NASL Modern Era. 

The Cosmos improve to 4W-0D-0L in their history against Ottawa, three of the four victories have come by a 1-0 final and all have been decided by a single goal.