Cosmos Defeat Rival Rowdies, Move To Top Of Spring Season Standings

Photo credit: New York Cosmos

New York scored two goals eight minutes apart late in the first half and this time made the lead stand up in a 2-1 win over visiting Tampa Bay Rowdies on Sunday night. The victory sends the Cosmos back into first place in the Spring Season Standings, leading FC Edmonton by a single point.

The Rowdies (2W-3D-2L, 9 points) took a 1-0 lead after a crisp counterattack culminated in Tom Heinemann’s second goal of the season. After the Cosmos buzzed near the Tampa Bay goal, a clearing pass found Heinemann at the center stripe. He trapped, and left the ball for Kalif Alhassan, who hit a quick return pass sending Heinemann in alone on Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer.

It was Heinemann’s first game back at Shuart Stadium, where he scored both goals for Ottawa Fury FC in The Championship Final loss to the Cosmos a year ago, and the night ended relatively early when he had to leave the match with a hamstring injury after 37 minutes.

New York (5-0-3, 15) drew even in the 32nd minute when Yasmani Duk, making his first start for the Cosmos, scored into an empty net after a four-pass combo from Ayoze to Yohandry Orozco to Juan Arango and finally to Duk. Duk leaves the club after the game to join the national team of Bolivia for next weekend’s friendly against the United States and for next month’s Copa América Centenario.

Eight minutes later, Ruben Bover, who replaced the injured Niko Kranjcar in the fourth minute, put a flying left-footed volley past Tampa Bay goalkeeper Matt Pickens after a lead pass from Juan Arango, his second assist of the game. The match was Bover’s return to play after missing six games because of injury.

For more information on the game, head on over to nycosmos.com and rowdiessoccer.com.