Match Report
| New York Cosmos | New York Cosmos |  |  | Chicago Fire | Chicago Fire | ||||||||||||||||
| Jamie Livermore | Jamie Livermore | Edgar Formosa | Edgar Formosa | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mathew Bell | M. Bell |  | 85 | G |  | 1 | | G | 69 |  | Cheyne Yates | C. Yates | |||||||||
| Alex Palacio | A. Palacio | | 66 | D |  | 2 |  | D | 75 |  | Daniel Bulos | D. Bulos | |||||||||
| Arthur White | A. White | | 72 | D | | 3 | | D | 73 |  | Julián Peña | J. Peña | |||||||||
| Sam Kallman | S. Kallman | | 75 | D | | 4 | | D | 73 |  | Carlos Koufatty | C. Koufatty | |||||||||
| Nahuel Rossi | N. Rossi |  | 82 | D |  | | 5 | | D | 72 |  | Jaime Bejarano | J. Bejarano | ||||||||
| Wade Testo | W. Testo | | 75 | M | | 6 | | M | 87 | | Casey Alston | C. Alston | |||||||||
| Dax Gore | D. Gore | | 79 | M | | 7 | | M | 77 | | Luciano Blanco | L. Blanco | |||||||||
| Dale Wood | D. Wood | | 86 | M | | 8 | | M | 77 | | Jeremy Knighton | J. Knighton | |||||||||
| Adam Kassel | A. Kassel | | 77 | A | | 9 | | | M | 76 |  | Sixto Escobar | S. Escobar | ||||||||
| Justin Perez | J. Perez | | 72 | A | | 10 | | A | 74 |  | Rafael Palacio | R. Palacio | |||||||||
| Oscar Parra | O. Parra | | 75 | A | | 11 | | A | 72 |  | Luís Mendoza | L. Mendoza | |||||||||
| Tyrone Kassel | T. Kassel | | 77 | D | | 12 | | M | 72 | | Neil Kassel | N. Kassel | |||||||||
| Henry King | H. King | | 78 | M | | 13 | | M | 72 | | César Perozo | C. Perozo | |||||||||
| Maurice Baker | M. Baker | | 80 | A | | 14 | | A | 71 | | Hernan Batistuta | H. Batistuta | |||||||||
 today's match is sponsored by Dilbert |
Match Report
An overcast sky looms overhead here at James M. Shuart Stadium where New York Cosmos play host to Chicago Fire. Its a sell-out today with the 21,000 capacity stadium completely full.
The pitch is in poor condition.
New York Cosmos are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Chicago Fire appear to be shaped for 4-4-2.
Today's match is refereed by Isaac Taylor.
The pitch is in poor condition.
New York Cosmos are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Chicago Fire appear to be shaped for 4-4-2.
Today's match is refereed by Isaac Taylor.
0.00
0-0New York Cosmos start the game by kicking off the first half!
2.23
0-0Dax Gore comes in with a late challenge on Jeremy Knighton. The referee calls over Dax Gore and warns him to calm down! Jeremy Knighton grimaces as he struggles to run off the knock.
3.15
0-0Wade Testo controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Justin Perez. Justin Perez tries a spectacular long range effort but is denied by Cheyne Yates. Excellent save.
6.24
0-0Jeremy Knighton darts forward. Jeremy Knighton knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Mathew Bell who gathers it comfortably.
8.06
0-0Luciano Blanco catches Dax Gore on the ankles. Luciano Blanco is warned by the referee! Dax Gore runs off the knock.
12.11
Luciano Blanco deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Luís Mendoza. Luís Mendoza hits a low pass to Rafael Palacio. Rafael Palacio tries a spectacular strike. The ball swerves viciously but the keeper is a match for it. Great keeping!
24.30
Dax Gore threads a neat ball through to Justin Perez. Justin Perez knocks in a cross ball towards Adam Kassel. Adam Kassel whips the ball goalwards with his head. The ball flies towards the top corner but the keeper is able to reach it. Good keeping!
27.53
Wade Testo hacks Sixto Escobar from behind! The referee calls over Wade Testo and shows him a yellow card! Sixto Escobar carries on, but is struggling a bit.
30.28
0-0Sam Kallman deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Wade Testo. Wade Testo laces a weighted ball forward to Oscar Parra. Oscar Parra shoots from long range his aim is horrendously poor!
32.28
0-0Dax Gore threads a neat ball through to Adam Kassel. Adam Kassel lofts in a cross ball towards Oscar Parra. Oscar Parra connects with a diving header. The shot is on target but blocked by Carlos Koufatty. That should have been a goal!
33.48
Jaime Bejarano makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Luciano Blanco. Luciano Blanco threads the ball through to Luís Mendoza. Luís Mendoza shoots from 20 yards but it sails harmlessly over the bar!
38.30
Rafael Palacio barges into Alex Palacio. The referee calls over Rafael Palacio and warns him to calm down! Alex Palacio carries on, but is struggling a bit.
42.41
Dax Gore flicks a high ball forward to Oscar Parra who takes it down. Oscar Parra knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
44.57
Sam Kallman knocks the ball forward to Dale Wood. Dale Wood controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Oscar Parra. Oscar Parra lofts in a cross ball towards Justin Perez. Justin Perez is unmarked! He powers a header at goal but it flies wide!
45.00
The first half ends with the referee blowing his whistle!
Both teams emerge for the second half. New York Cosmos appear unchanged since the first half. Chicago Fire also appear unchanged since the first half. The New York Cosmos players look more determined than they did at the start of the game.
45.00
Chicago Fire kick off and get the second half underway!
47.47
Julián Peña pushes mid-way up the pitch. Julián Peña flicks a high pass forward. Rafael Palacio holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Rafael Palacio knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Sam Kallman.
51.26
0-0Wade Testo hacks Sixto Escobar from behind! The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's another yellow card! It's an early bath for Wade Testo!! Sixto Escobar runs off the knock.
57.45
Alex Palacio surges forward with the ball. Alex Palacio flicks a high pass forward. Justin Perez holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Justin Perez knocks in a cross ball towards Adam Kassel. Adam Kassel is perfectly placed and heads the ball at goal but somehow Cheyne Yates manages to keep it out.
59.31
60.54
0-0New York Cosmos have made a substitution with Maurice Baker replacing Justin Perez .
69.24
Jeremy Knighton hacks Dax Gore from behind! The referee brings Jeremy Knighton to one side and gives him a warning! Dax Gore stretches but gets up unharmed.
75.15
Jeremy Knighton threads a neat ball through to Rafael Palacio. Rafael Palacio knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
78.52
0-1Luciano Blanco flicks a high pass forward. Luís Mendoza collects the pass. Luís Mendoza plays a one-two with Rafael Palacio and advances towards the goal... Luís Mendoza tries a spectacular strike. The ball edges inside the post - goal!!
87.47
Dax Gore sees Adam Kassel in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Adam Kassel knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Cheyne Yates who gathers it comfortably.
89.09
Dax Gore flicks a high pass forward. Adam Kassel controls it well on his chest. Adam Kassel tries a spectacular long range effort but it's a lousy effort!
90.00
The referee blows the final whistle
Match Statistics
Goals
0
1
Shots on Target
4
2
Shots off Target
4
1
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
3
3
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
1
0
Possession
57.3%
42.7%
Play Area
29.3%
48%
22.7%
Scorers
| Luís Mendoza 79 |
Man of the Match
| The man of the match was awarded to Luís Mendoza of Chicago Fire |
Match Ratings
| 1. | Mathew Bell (GK) | 6 | |
| 2. | Alex Palacio (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Arthur White (DEF) | 6 | |
| 4. | Sam Kallman (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Nahuel Rossi (DEF) | 6 | |
| 6. | Wade Testo (MID) |  | 3 |
| 7. | Dax Gore (MID) | 7 | |
| 8. | Dale Wood (MID) | 6 | |
| 9. | Adam Kassel (ATT) | 6 | |
| 10. | Justin Perez (ATT) | 6 | |
| 11. | Oscar Parra (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | Tyrone Kassel (DEF) | 0 | |
| 13. | Henry King (MID) | 0 | |
| 14. | Maurice Baker (ATT) | 6 | |
| 1. | Cheyne Yates (GK) | 7 | |
| 2. | Daniel Bulos (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Julián Peña (DEF) | 6 | |
| 4. | Carlos Koufatty (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Jaime Bejarano (DEF) | 6 | |
| 6. | Casey Alston (MID) | 6 | |
| 7. | Luciano Blanco (MID) | 7 | |
| 8. | Jeremy Knighton (MID) | 6 | |
| 9. | Sixto Escobar (MID) | 6 | |
| 10. | Rafael Palacio (ATT) | 6 | |
| 11. | Luís Mendoza (ATT) |  | 8 |
| 12. | Neil Kassel (MID) | 0 | |
| 13. | César Perozo (MID) | 0 | |
| 14. | Hernan Batistuta (ATT) | 0 | |