Cosmos Stay In Hunt For Top Overall Seed For The Championship With Comeback Victory

Ayoze kept the New York Cosmos' hopes of finishing atop the NASL Combined Standings alive Sunday afternoon, as the Spanish fullback scored the late winner in a 2-1 triumph over the San Antonio Scorpions at Toyota Field.

Unbeaten in their last four matches, the Cosmos moved one point ahead of Minnesota United and within two points of first-place Ottawa heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

Trailing 1-0 at the half, the Cosmos capitalized on a pair of set pieces to take a 2-1 lead. After a Marcos Senna penalty kick, Ayoze put the Cosmos in front in the 79th minute, curling a 26-yard free kick inside the near post.

Two minutes later, Billy Forbes nearly leveled with his second goal of the game, putting a shot from 22 yards out on frame, but Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer parried it away.

Andrés Flores almost added a critical insurance goal three minutes from full time, but his attempt hit the post.

The Cosmos had the better of possession and more dangerous scoring chances, but the Scorpions entered the break with a lead as Billy Forbes capitalized on a failed clearance to score his fifth goal of the season two minutes from halftime to give San Antonio a 1-0 lead.

The Cosmos equalized in the 62nd minute from the penalty spot after Gastón Cellerino was taken down inside the box. Senna sent San Antonio goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes the wrong way with a brief hesitation before slotting his low shot inside the net to level the match at 1-1. It was his third goal of the season.

In the 68th minute, Senna had a chance for a second, but put a low free kick from 32 yards out wide of the net.

Four minutes later, Forbes raced into the box and put a low shot on frame, but Maurer made the save.

Cellerino nearly equalized five minutes into the second half, but his quick shot from the top of the 18-yard box was saved by Fernandes The Argentine also had the first quality scoring chance for the Cosmos in the 8th minute when he latched onto a Walter Restrepo cross, but he was unable to connect on a scissor kick.

In the 24th minute, Cellerino put a header on frame, but Fernandes made the save.

Three minutes later, Senna settled a deflected ball just outside of the box following a corner and lashed a shot toward goal, but it deflected off a San Antonio player for a second corner kick.

In the 34th minute, Raúl unleashed a curling left-footed blast that sailed wide of the far post.