Cosmos tie Matt VanOkel and FC Edmonton

The first and second place NASL teams split the three points after a nil-nil draw. Don’t let the score line fool you, the game was filled with chances for the Cosmos. The problem however, was finishing. Although New York had 19 shots on goal, they only had four on target and could not find the back of the net. Matt VanOkel, one of the NASL’s best keepers, had another premier match against the Cosmos and kept Edmonton’s sheet clean. Juan Arango came closest to breaking the deadlock with a deadball, but his effort was just wide. Although the Cosmos could not find the back of the net, they should be proud of the clean sheet they earned. Standings wise, the status quo is kept and both teams remain first and second.

Before the match, captain Carlos Mendes was celebrated for achieving one hundred caps with the Cosmos. He was honored in a pregame ceremony with his family where he was given a jersey adorned with the number 100. He was also given the Man of the Match award for his performance during the match.

The Cosmos are now sitting comfortably at the top of the NASL combined standings with forty nine points. There’s still a lot of soccer to be played but the Cosmos need not worry about making the playoffs. The key to the rest of this season is keeping the momentum going and going in the playoffs as hot as possible. In their next match, the Cosmos travel to face a team that’s always a thorn in their side, Indy Eleven.