Cosmos Down Jacksonville on Rainy Saturday Night

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- It may have taken 74 minutes for someone to find the back of the net, but Raul's goal in the latter part of the game helped lead the Cosmos to a XX-XX victory over the Jacksonville Armada FC.

After the Cosmos split possession time evenly in the first half and couldn't convert on a handful of chances in the second, Raul found the back of the net off a great set up by Walter Restrepo. The Cosmos' midfielder was able to get ball behind him to Raul, who worked his way around a Jacksonville defender and fired the ball into the back of the net.

It would be the only goal either team would be able to muster in a match that was highlighted more by the weather than the play on the field.

The Cosmos and Armada FC played in front of a crowd of 5,089 that braved the rainy weather conditions to come out to Shuart Stadium on Saturday. They were treated to a mostly average contest for much of the first half. The two sides put on a sluggish performance that didn't see either time generate many offensive opportunities.

It wasn't until the 32nd minute that a free kick by Marcos Senna created the Cosmos first real scoring opportunity, but his shot from outside the box was knocked away by Jacksonville keeper David Sierra. After that New York began to put the pressure on the visiting club from Florida.

Lucky Mkosana was on the receiving end of a great pass from Cosmos' keeper Jimmy Maurer and was able to charge up the field. Although Mkosana was able to draw the keeper out on the play, his chip shot went wide of the net. The Cosmos continued to pressure Jacksonville through the second half and eventually Raul found the game-winner.

The three points from Saturday's win moves the Cosmos to 25 points in the standings for the fall season. The Cosmos are back in action next Saturday in Minnesota.