Cosmos grab an early lead, end up settling for a draw against Indy

The New York Cosmos' fall season has been nothing if not disappointing, with a string of lackluster displays leading to disappointing results. After fighting for a draw against league-leading Minnesota United after an early sending off last week, I think most fans were hoping that we were in for a run of good play and results.

Early on, it looked as if Saturday night in Indy could see the Cosmos starting that excellent run of results. The club took the lead just six minutes into the contest, when David Diosa nodded home an inch-perfect cross from Andres Flores to give the visitors the lead. At the end of the first half, the Cosmos doubled the lead when Mads Stokkelien and new signing Danny Mwanga combined beautifully for Mads to slot it home.

The second half was entirely different than the first, as Indy came out of the dressing room and immediately looked a much improved side. After fifteen minutes the hosts were within a goal, as Mike Ambersley tapped home to make it 2-1. Indy continued to pile pressure on the New York backline, but deep into stoppage time it looked like the visitors would be leaving with maximum points. Unfortunately, Jermaine Johnson found an equalizer in the 93rd minute, and New York were forced to settle for a point in a game they really should have won.

Despite the draw, the Cosmos still sit third in the NASL combined table, with a four point gap back to the two teams chasing them. That gap is slowly getting smaller and smaller though, and Saturday night was an opportunity wasted to significantly increase that gap. Things need to turn around, and soon...