UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Striker Isaac Acuna scored on either side of halftime as the New York Cosmos maintained their hold on first place in the NPSL Members Cup by recording a 2-0 victory over the Michigan Stars at Mitchel Athletic Complex on Saturday night.

The Cosmos, who reached the midway point of their season, improved to 4-0-1 and 13 points while the Stars (0-2-1) dropped to 0-2-1.

Left fullback Ansi Agolli and Acuna, who has three goals in his past two games, combined on both scores.

In the 23rd minute, Agolli switched the ball to his right foot drilled the ball toward the goal. Acuna got to before just before goalkeeper Tatenda could and knocked it into the net.

Acuna, named man of the match, gave the Cosmos some breathing room in the 87th minute. This time Agolli, an Albanian international, chipped the ball to the waiting Acuna from the left side. Acuna trapped the ball and beat Tatenda to the other side of the net for a two-goal advantage.

Cosmos goalkeeper Santiago Castano recorded the team’s fourth shutout of the Members Cup season, his third. Michigan pushed up trying to equalize in the second half and came close to scoring on defender Joseph Aidoo’s shot during a sequence off a corner kick.

On the other end of the field, the Cosmos peppered Tatenda with shots. He was outstanding in the first half, facing 12 shots and making seven saves to keep his side in the match. He started his one-man showcase with the game 100 seconds as he denied Acuna’s header. He also stopped shots by Junior Burgos and Agolli.

New York defeated the Stars, 2-0, in Pontiac, Mich. on Aug. 31.

The Cosmos hit the for a key Members Cup match-up against Detroit City FC on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

They return home to host Chattanooga FC at Mitchel on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m.

 

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.