It took 31 years for the New York Cosmos to return to action in the North American Soccer League. However, at season’s end the storied club found itself in a familiar position, lifting the Soccer Bowl trophy.
The Cosmos defeated Atlanta, 1-0, in Atlanta on Nov. 9 as the club clinched its sixth NASL title.
“The New York Cosmos are back," head coach Giovanni Savarese said. "We worked very hard this season to play in the NASL…we’re very proud of the players because they accomplished great things weekend through weekend and tonight win the championship."
The Cosmos, who last won the title in 1982, didn’t boast the talents of players like Giorgio Chinaglia or Carlos Alberto from that team. However the players, who were strangers back in July, gelled quickly to form the title-winning side.
For the rebooted Cosmos, it was Marcos Senna again with a moment of sheer magic to provide a victory, this time in the NASL title game in front of a capacity crowd of 7, 211 at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.
“There’s no question he [Senna] has been the best player of this league, not only in our team,” head coach Giovanni Savarese said.
Ayoze sent in a free kick from 30 yards out on the left side that the Atlanta Silverbacks defense headed away. However, it fell to the feet of Senna at the top of the 18-yard box, who took one touch to settle and then lobbed Silverbacks goalkeeper Joe Nasco in the 50th minute to score the game’s opener and eventual winner.
“It’s difficult for me to describe exactly the goal the way it went. What I can say is that it was a moment of happiness,” said Senna through an interpreter.
The Silverbacks started the game brightly with the first chance to score coming in the 13th minute. Brad Stisser fired a shot on target from inside the penalty area that was saved by Cosmos keeper Kyle Reynish.
From then on the Cosmos were in control of the first half, creating the better of the attacking play.
Diomar Diaz had two chances in the 21st minute to put the Cosmos ahead. His shot from the top of the box went wide and shot near the penalty spot right at Nasco for an easy save.
Seven minutes later Sebastien Guenzatti had a fantastic chance, but fired high on his attempt from inside the penalty area. Senna then forced Nasco into a diving save from a 25-yard curling free kick.
The Silverbacks posed more of an attacking threat in the second half after conceding the goal, which forced Reynish into action on several occasions.
Atlanta had one of their best chances at an equalizer, but Pedro Mendes headed his attempt at goal over the crossbar from inside the six in the 64th minute.
Shane Maroney found space in the box, but Reynish came off his line to clear the danger with a save from close range in the 78th minute.
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