Bledi Bardic scored for the second consecutive game. (Photo courtesy of the Cosmos)

WARWICK, N.Y. – Despite facing a one-goal deficit and despite playing the final 33 minutes down a player, the Cosmos found a way to overome these challenges Friday night.

They tallied three unanswered goals to record their first victory of the National Independent Soccer Association campaign, a 3-1 triumph over New Amsterdam FC at the Hudson Sports Complex.

The Cosmos were forced to play a man down after center back Emmanuele Sembroni was red carded for kicking Daniel Vicente in the back of the head while his opponent down on the field in the 57th minute. Vicente was forced out of the game.

New York (1-0-1, 4 points) moved into a first-place tie with Michigan Stars FC (1-0-1, 4), which hosts Detroit City FC on Saturday night, in the Eastern Division.

Matt Lewis and Bledi Bardic scored on either side of halftime and Aly Hassan added an insurance goal. Midfielder Ansi Agolli set up the first and final goals.

The Cosmos, who played to 1-1 draws in their first three games of the year by surrendering late equalizing goals, (two in the NISA Independent Cup and one in their season opener), were in trouble early on.

After dominating, New York conceded the first goal. Center back Lewis fouled Michael Bello in the box and New Amsterdam FC (0-1-0, 0) was awarded a penalty kick. Vicente fired a bullet into the upper right corner that goalkeeper Jesse Corke had no chance to stop in the 15th minute.

It was the first time the Cosmos trailed this year.

Lewis atoned for the foul in the 45th minute to knot things up at 1-1.

After a New Amsterdam FC foul, Agolli started the sequence with a free kick some 40 yards out on the left side. He passed the ball to Darwin Espinal toward the corner and the forward sent a return feed to Agolli. The former Albanian national team captain floated in a perfect cross that an unmarked Lewis headed past goalkeeper Aldo Munoz from seven yards for his first goal this season.

Only 77 seconds into the second half, the Cosmos grabbed the lead off a turnover. Shavon John-Brown raced into the area and slotted a pass to his left to Bardic, who blasted an attempt from the top of area. New Amsterdam owner Laurence Girard, who replaced Munoz at halftime, got a hand on the shot. However, the ball bounced once and into the net for a 2-1 advantage. Bardic has scored in both Cosmos matches.

Hassan, a second-half sub who missed last week’s season opener due to his father’s funeral, put the final touches on the win in the 88th minute. Another substitute, Sal Barone sent a through ball to Agolli on the left side. With Girard out of the net, Agolli fed Hassan, who scored into an empty goal, his first of the campaign, from 12 yards.

The Cosmos, who had numerous opportunities, endured a frustrating first half. Munoz, a 17-year-old goalkeeper who will be a senior at Bergen Tech, made life difficult for the Cosmos with five saves in the first half.

Munoz was magnificent, denying Agolli in the 17th minute, John-Brown from 12 yards in the 27th minute and Agolli again from the right side in the 33rd minute.

With Munoz out of the net in the seventh minute, New Amsterdam center back Michael Nastu headed out Pedro Galvao’s shot out of harm’s way.

The Cosmos return to action against Detroit City FC at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. It will be a closed-door match, but fans can watch all the action at MyCujoo.TV.

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.