Javi Marquez tallied his third goal in his last four games. (Photo courtesy of the Cosmos)

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — For the first time in three months, the Cosmos celebrated a win Sunday night.

Javi Marquez struck for the lone as the Cosmos registered a 1-0 victory over Puerto Rico FC to snap a nine-game winless streak at MCU Park.

Since starting the North American Soccer League fall season with a 3-1 victory over Miami FC June 29, the Cosmos went 0-3-6 in their next nine games.

They saw their playoff hopes slowly, but surely, dwindle. After Sunday’s result, the Cosmos are in fifth place in the fall standings with a 2-3-6 mark and 12 points andmoved into fourth place in the overall standings with an 8-7-12 mark and 36 points, trailing third-place North Carolina (10-9-9, 39) by three points.

“I believe we earned the three points today,” Marquez said. “It was definitely a team effort. Thankfully enough I was the one who scored.”

Added head coach Giovanni Savarese: ““It gives you the possibility to continue to work the right way and believe in what we’re doing. It was very important for us to get the three points.”

Goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer, starting for the first time in five matches, was credited with the shutout, his fifth of the season.

In the 47th minute, the Cosmos thought they had taken the lead when U.S. youth international Eric Calvillo saw his header cleared off the line by visiting Puerto Rico. Andres Flores’ initial shot was saved by Puerto Rico goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg and Calvillo’s follow-up header was centimeters away from crossing the line.
After Juan Guerra went close in the 66th minute, New York finally found the back of the net seven minutes later. Lucky Mkosana won the ball in the midfield and started a wonderful combination play that involved Calvillo, Pablo Vranjican, and Flores. The ball ended up with Marquez, who blasted a left-footed shot low into the net.

It was Marquez’s his third goal in four games and fifth of the season. He earned man of the match honors for the third time this season.

“He is a quality player,” Savarese said. “This is what we expect from him, and he has done fantastic. Not only on the goal but by making the right decisions with the ball and being a leader on the field.”

The visitors nearly equalized in the 90th minute as Ramon Soria’s header from the center of the box was stopped by Maurer.

In a rarity, the entire Cosmos’ backline — James Mulligan, Ayoze, Carlos Mendes and Dejan Jakovic — and Maurer each received yellow cards from referee Henrik Karlsson. They were the only New York players who were cautioned.

In stoppage time, Puerto Rico’s,Walter Ramirez was shown a red card.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.