Without playing a game Tuesday night, Cosmos B gained home-field advantage for the rest of the National Premier Soccer League playoffs.
Top-seeded Laredo Heat SC was eliminated from the postseason, losing to the Little Rock Rangers, 2-1, in the South Region semifinals in Laredo, Texas.
Cosmos B, which is second in the power rankings, assumed the top role, followed by No. 3 FC Motown. So, if Cosmos B reached the NPSL championship game on Aug. 4, it would have the right to host it.
The Rangers tallied the game-winning goal in the 109th minute as it snapped a 1-1 deadlock.
In fact, the visitors grabbed the lead in the 31st minute.
After several close encounters in the second half, Laredo equalized on a goal by Rodave Murray in the 88th minute.
Laredo earned the No. 1 spot in the power rankings on goal differential. Since both teams finished with 10-0-0 records and averaged 3.0 points a game, the Texas side got the nod. It finished with a plus 33 (37 goals for, four against), compared to Cosmos B’s plus 32 (40 goals for, eight against).
FC Motown is third in the rankings with 2.7 points per game.
Cosmos B hosts FC Frederick in the North Atlantic Conference semifinals at Hofstra Soccer Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y. Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
FC Motown welcomes FC Baltimore at Ranger Stadium on the campus of Drew University in Madison, N.J. Wednesday at 8 p.m.
The winners of both games will meet in the conference final at a venue to be determined Saturday night.
