September 28, 2020: New York Cosmos vs Los Angeles Force

September 28, 2020
2020 NISA Fall Tournament Group Stage, Game Twelve
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, MI

New York Cosmos 1, Los Angeles Force 2
LA Christian Gordillo Moreno (Jimmie Villalobos) 15′
LA Danny Trejo 40′
NY Shavon John-Brown (Darwin Espinal) 90+’

Yellow Cards:
Mattia Cella (NY) 44′
Danny Szetela (NY) 53′
Erick Villatoro (LA) 62′ 75′ (red card ejection)
Gregory Salazar (LA) 70′

For Los Angeles, a win would put them through to the semi-finals. For New York, a victory by four goals or more would put them in the semi-finals. A draw would eliminate both teams.

It had rained through the Chattanooga FC vs Cal United Strikers match, and between matches the traditional post-rain rainbow appeared behind the Supporters Section at Keyworth. And the rain returned to participate in this final Group B match.

Los Angeles alters its starting line-up from its 3-2 victory over Cal United by inserting Erick Villatoro and Abraham Torres in place of Franky Martinez and Quinton Carey.

STARTING XI

Los Angeles Force
Hugo Gomez – Keeper
Erick Villatoro – Defender
Gregory Salazar – Defender
Abraham Torres – Defender
Spencer Moeller – Defender
Josue Espana – Midfielder
Jimmy Villalobos – Midfielder
Cyro Reis de Oliveira – Midfielder
Paolo Cardozo – Midfielder
Danny Trejo – Forward
Christian Gordillo Moreno – Forward

For the Cosmos, Kevin Tenjo and Geo Alves step in for Justin Corke and Bljedi Bardic from the eleven who started in the Chattanooga scoreless draw.

STARTING XI

New York Cosmos
Kevin Tenjo – Keeper
Pedro Galvao – Defender
Matt Lewis – Defender
Ansi Agolli – Defender
Konrad Plewa – Defender
Geo Alves – Midfielder
Danny Szetela – Midfielder
Mattia Cella – Midfielder
Bledi Bardic – Forward
Shavon John-Brown – Forward
Issac Acuna – Forward

Los Angeles owned the first half.  Their first goal at the 15-minute mark was Cristian Gordillo Moreno’s fourth-straight goal for the Force (recording a hat trick in their 3-2 victory over Cal United), firing it past Kevin Tenjo after receiving a pass from Jimmy Villalobos that split a seam through the Cosmos defenders. William Raygoza subbed in for Cyro Reis de Oliveria in the 27th minute.  Five minutes before the end of the half, Danny Trejo scored, picking up the wayward pass from Pedro Galvao to Konrad Plewa and blasting it into the Cosmos net.

Both teams made player changes as the second half began.  Aly Hassan and Salvatore Barone replaced Ansi Agolli and Bljedi Bardic for the Cosmos.  Christopher Ribet and Jesus Gonzalez subbed in for Danny Trejo and Jimmie Villalobos.  The Cosmos brought in Darwin Espinal and John Denis in the 56th and 78th minute for Geo Alves and Danny Szetela respectively.  Quinton Carey entered the match for Los Angeles, with Gregory Salazar withdrawn in the 74th minute.  A minute later, Erick Villatoro received his second yellow card of the match, giving the Cosmos a man advantage for the remaining fifteen minutes.  Villatoro’s first yellow card came in the 62nd minute when he took down Salvatore Barone (more like fell down and into Barone who went down like a domino) giving the Cosmos a penalty kick which Hugo Gomez saved.

Finally, in stoppage time, the Cosmos scored their first goal of the entire tournament.

With this win, Los Angeles finishes at the top of Group B.  They will match up against Detroit City FC in the semi-finals.  Oakland Roots topped the standings in Group A and will face Chattanooga FC in the other semi-final match.

The full tournament is HERE.