Cozmoz FC vs. Barnstonworth Rovers Old Boys

** Cosmopolitan Soccer League 2019/2020 **

#709

The weather was in the 80's but the turf was measured at 95 degrees. Rovers Old Boys got off to a quick start and got a nice finish to go up 1-0 within 10 minutes. Cozmoz were a little slow to the ball, but got nearly an equalizer from Duane Pena. Rovers keeper made a nice save to keep them ahead. Around 20 minutes, Cozmoz got the equalizer. Jon Benenson headed a second ball off a goal kick into space behind the Rovers defense that Pena could run with and beat the keeper with a tidy right footed curler. Cozmoz coach Narces Phanor started making substitutesto keep his side rested on the hot turf. 1st half ended 1-1. Cozmoz quickly picked up the momentum and Marlon Johnson scored off an assist from Pena. Rovers had trouble dealing with the speed of Cozmoz attack and the offside trap was not working, as Pena hustled after a through ball that Rovers defense gave up on thinking Nedgy Nazon was offside. Pena found Marlon for an easy finish to go up 2-1. Within 5 minutes, the lead was doubled as another breakthrough put Kendell Villaroel alone on goal and unselfishly he laid it off for Nazon to get his first of the game. Shortly after, Nazon found his brace off an assist from Johnson (4-1). Returning from Rovers Premier days, Maurice Wellington opened his account by a series of 1-2s with Jason Jordan. Rovers came close and tested goalkeeper Marc Cuenot several times. 

Not a bad summary from Cozmoz over there, with one exception...

Our offside trap was working.  It's just that the referee spent the entire game stood in the center circle and missed several calls - at least two goals were incorrectly awarded.  We received a couple of yellow cards while trying to explain to him the error in his ways.

But credit to Cozmoz, they deserved the win.  After a very tight first half, they kept up the pressure and ground us down.