A volleyed shot from New York’s David Diosa in the first half ended Minnesota United FC’s unbeaten run as the Loons fight to maintain their spot in the playoff picture.
Minnesota kept the same starting lineup from their 1-0 win against Rayo OKC while the Cosmos made one change from a scoreless draw against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers last week starting Diosa over Jairo Arrieta.
The game started out with a bit of an injury scare for United when Damion Lowe went to ground after taking a boot to the head from an attempted bicycle kick from Lucky Mkosana. After getting looked over by the trainer Lowe returned to the game.
The Cosmos had the majority of the possession in the first half as Minnesota hung back trying to keep their defensive shape while only committing to a few forays into the attack. The tactic didn’t keep New York quiet very long and in the 22nd minute the Cosmos took the lead. Ruben Bover sent a diagonal ball to the left side of the box into the path of Diosa. Diosa struck the ball on a full volley across the face of goal, beating Ndjock at the far post.
Minnesota nearly leveled the score line 14 minutes later after earning a free kick 30 yards out. Lance Laing stepped up to take the kick and went for goal, beating Cosmos keeper Jimmy Maurer, but his shot blasted off the crossbar.
Near the end of the first half Christian Ramirez found himself in a prime position to score when he was fed the ball in the center of the box with a defender on his back. Unfortunately Ramirez didn’t have a teammate nearby to dish the ball off to and was forced to make an awkward attempt on goal that rolled harmlessly to the keeper.
Going into halftime down a goal, when points are so valuable, Minnesota was forced out of their defensive play and began to push forward through the play of Laing and Ramirez. In the span of just seven minutes Minnesota had four dangerous opportunities.
In the 48th minute Ramirez dummied a ball to Laing who was sprinting down the left side, meeting the onrushing keeper. The two came together and resulted in the ball ricocheting off of Laing and out for a goal kick.
Shortly after United earned a free kick 20 yards from goal. Once again, Laing tried his luck with a shot on goal, attempting to curl a shot into the upper corner at the far post. The shot had Maurer going the wrong way, but the ball went over the crossbar.
Just a minute later JC Banks flicked a throw-in from Justin Davis into the center of the box. After the ball took a bounce, Ramirez attempted a bit of trickery by popping the ball into the air with his chest to set himself up for a bicycle kick, but put the shot over the bar.
Finally in the 55th minute Ramirez played Laing behind the defense and once again the keeper came off his line to challenge. Laing attempted to go around, but Maurer got a touch to the ball which delayed Laing enough for the defense to recover and prevent a shot on the empty net.
The momentum United had was all but brought to a halt around the hour mark by a series of substitutions. Minnesota brought on Stefano Pinho and Ben Speas for Lance Laing and JC Banks while the Cosmos replaced Diosa with Andres Flores.
In the 75th minute Ramirez came inches away from leveling the game when he fired a half volley from just inside the box, but Maurer, who earned his team’s Man of the Match Award, managed to get his fingertips to the ball pushing the shot just over the bar.
Ramirez had one last dangerous look at goal in the 81st minute when a low cross from Speas made its way through traffic in the box. Ramirez was unmarked near the back post and took a touch before taking a shot, but Maurer would not be beaten and made the save.
Minnesota made their final sub of the night in the 82nd minute bringing on Kevin Venegas for Lowe to add to their attacking options, but they were unable to create any more chances before the final whistle.
Lineups:
MNUFC – Ndjock; Davis, Kallman, Lowe, Brovsky; Laing, Ibson, Pitchkolan, Banks, Watson; Ramirez
NYC – Mauer; Ayoze, Mendes, Roversio, Mulligan; Diosa, Bover, Moffat, Arango, Guenzatti; Mkosana
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