It wasn’t the best first impression.
The Cosmos opened up their home schedule at Coney Island’s MCU Park on April 1 with a 3–0 loss to Miami FC, a disappointing showing for the squad in its brand-new home in Brooklyn.
“I think we need to know where we are right now,” Cosmos coach Giovanni Savarese said. “We’re still looking for players and I don’t think we’re ready yet. I think what we’re doing right now is trying to build up our game.”
The Cosmos’ defense held strong in the first half — building off a 0–0 draw with Puerto Rico in the season-opener March 25 — and goalkeeper Jimmy Mauer did his best in net, even as Miami continued to attack.
Ryan Richie took a penalty kick in the 34th minute, but his shot sailed wide right and the squads went into the break knotted at zero. But it wasn’t because of a lack of energy from either side — or from a boisterous crowd of more than 6,000 in attendance.
“It was fantastic,” Savarese said. “Being able to have this energy and the people that came, it was so much support. Tonight was a great night and it was great to see how much has been done to bring the people in.”
The Cosmos squad did its best to keep the game even early in the second half, but Miami’s front line proved too formidable.
Dylan Mares got Miami FC on the board in the 51st minute on a left-footed rocket from the corner of the box. The shot sailed by Mauer’s outstretched hands in between the pipes and left the veteran goaltender visibly frustrated. It also drew a bit of emotion from the players as Mares and Cosmos midfielder Danny Szetela picked up yellow cards just moments after the goal. That, turned out to be only the beginning.
Miami padded its lead in the 67th minute on a Cosmos own goal as the ball deflected off the back of Ryan Richter’s leg and into the corner of the net. It was enough to leave Mauer barking at his teammates, and the pro-Cosmos crowd deflated.
“In the second half, Miami had a lot of chances and everything really opened up,” Mauer said. “But it wasn’t on [the defense], it was on all the lines. They were extremely stretched out and it really opened up the field.”
Miami scored once again in the 74th minute, and while Mauer came up big on another penalty kick late in the second half, the Cosmos had already dug themselves into a hole that was too deep.
“It is what it is,” Mauer said. “We’ve had a lot of new faces with only a few days of training. We’re still working through it and we’ve got a long way to go. A lot of work to do, but we’re just taking it week-by-week and day-by-day, trying to get better.”
Despite the frustrating start, the Cosmos insist it’s just the second game of the season, and expressed confidence that more goals will come as the roster-rebuilding continues.
“You wish that the team can grow faster,” Savarese said. “We want a more balanced team, make sure the team grows physically, but time is the only [thing] that’s going to get us to that point.”
