RECAP | Cosmos 3, Silverbacks 0

Sebastián Guenzatti, Gastón Cellerino, and Leo Fernandes struck as the New York Cosmos defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks, 3-0, in a Fall Season showdown at Silverback Park on Wednesday night.

This was the second match of a home-and-home between the teams. The sides played to a 1-1 draw at Shuart Stadium on Sunday.

Guenzatti made the Silverbacks pay for their high pressure with a penetrating run toward the goal, cutting inside of an Atlanta defender 16 yards from goal before putting a low shot back inside the near post in the 29th minute.

Cellerino scored his first goal in a Cosmos uniform in the 54th minute to give the Cosmos a 2-0 lead. The powerful Argentine forward made a strong run into space before putting a low shot on frame that Silverbacks goalkeeper Stewart Ceus dove to his left to push away at the six-yard box.

Cellerino, though, would not be denied and pulled around an Atlanta defender before putting his own rebound inside the far post.

Fernandes put the finishing touches on a comprehensive victory, settling the ball before blasting a shot from 16 yards out into the net two minutes from full time to give the Cosmos a 3-0 lead. It was his eighth goal of the season.

Jimmy Maurer made back-to-back spectacular saves in the 68th minute to keep the hosts off the scoreboard.

Four minutes after Guenzatti's second goal of the season, Hunter Freeman had a dangerous chance on a set piece just outside the left edge of the 18-yard box, but the defender’s free kick deflected off the Atlanta wall for a corner kick.

The Cosmos moved into sole possession of third place in the Fall Season Standings, while leapfrogging idle Minnesota United and moving within one point of Ottawa Fury FC in the Combined Standings.