Late Goals Seal Win For Cosmos

Photo credit: Todd Drexler/Jacksonville Armada FC

The New York Cosmos scored three goals in the final 10 minutes, two from Juan Arango, to defeat Jacksonville Armada FC, 4-2, at Community First Park on Saturday night. The loss was Jacksonville’s first after a five-game unbeaten streak. The Cosmos moved even closer to clinching the Fall Season title.  

Largely against the run of play, New York (12W-5D-3L, 41 points Fall; 18-5-7, 59 Combined) took a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute. Juan Arango led Jairo Arrieta with a pass into the Jacksonville (3-8-8-, 17 Fall; 4-12-13, 24 Combined) penalty area for a shot that was saved by Miguel Gallardo, but rebounded into the path of Yohandry Orozco, who directed it into the net. The goal ended the Armada FC’s 293-minute shutout streak.

Jacksonville got even in the 66th minute when Keita scored his fifth goal of the year, roofing a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer from the top of the penalty area. Zach Steinberger gave the Armada FC the lead on an opportunistic goal in the 79th minute. After Maurer parried a shot, Steinberger beat two defenders to the ball and buried a shot for the lead.

Arango scored his 13th goal of the year when his free kick kissed the crossbar and bounced down over the goal line in the 83rd minute. The Venezuelan star did it again minutes later as he buried a patented left-footed free kick for his 14th of the year.

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