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.
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.