Written By: Ryan Flynn
Two second-half goals powered Sarasota Paradise to a 2-1 victory over New York Cosmos on Wednesday night, stretching their unbeaten streak to three games and picking up a crucial three points as they push for playoffs.
The first half was relatively quiet offensively, with neither side offering up a shot on goal in the opening quarter of the game.The Paradise defense swarmed Cosmos’s attackers, disrupting their flow and executing 14 clearances throughout the half. Paradise’s first true shot on goal came in the 36th minute, when Andres Rodriguez whipped a right-footed cross into the box that the Cosmos keeper struggled to get his hands on. Emeliano Terzaghi attacked the loose ball but placed his shot over the bar. As Cosmos charged downfield seconds later, Paradise goalkeeper Alex Sutton, the game’s Player to Watch, leapt into action. Cosmos forward Lamin Jawneh received a cross at the top of the box and curled a shot on target, striking the crossbar. Using all of his 6’2” frame, Sutton went full-extension to block the follow-up shot on the edge of the box to keep the game scoreless. The teams went into the halftime break deadlocked at zero, Sarasota determined to be the ones that broke the tie in the second half.
That determination paid off just ten minutes into the second half. After winning the ball back, Sutton cleared a ball that was corralled by Jonathan Bolanos just before the halfway line. Sprinting downfield, Bolanos avoided a sliding tackle, carrying the ball into the final third. Having his cross blocked, the ball fell to Brendan Krueger who initiated a series of passes along the edge of the six yard box before it was fed to Anderson Rosa. Surveying the area, Rosa curled a cross into the box that found Krueger, who buried it in the net with a header to open the scoring for Paradise. Krueger scored his first ever professional goal, putting Paradise up 1-0.
Cosmos nearly leveled the score in the 58th, with Philip Spengler receiving a dangerous cross into the box but heading it directly off the crossbar, avoiding disaster for Sarasota and preserving their 1-0 lead.
Paradise extended their lead in the 76th, executing another dangerous counterattack that started with Rodriguez wrestling the ball away from a defender in his own half. After winning possession back, he found Krueger who was able to play a ball for Ethan Bryant into space. Upon receiving Krueger’s pass, Bryant raced downfield into the final third, threading a perfect through ball that found the run of Anderson Rosa. Rosa was able to slot the ball through the legs of Cosmos keeper Javier Garcia, resulting in his second goal contribution of the game and 6th goal on the year.
With a two-goal lead, Paradise continued their disciplined defending, punctuated when Sutton denied a long-range shot from Jordan Chavez with a diving save that nearly brought the home side within one. Cosmos eventually found the back of the net in the 82nd minute, when Lamine Jawneh unleashed a left-footed strike that buried itself in the top left corner and cut the Paradise lead in half.
As the clock ticked closer to full time, Paradise remained composed and compact defensively, engulfing the Cosmos attack in a sea of white and green as they continually denied their opponent chances on goal. Cosmos had one final chance at an equalizer in the 94th minute but Sutton stood tall and calmly snared a shot from Nick Zielonka, denying them a goal. As the final whistle sounded, Paradise players celebrated another victory, their second in three games.
Sutton’s standout performance, highlighted by seven saves, played a critical part in Paradise picking up three points. Sutton frustrated the Cosmos offense with a myriad of crucial saves and blocks, while setting up counterattacks to play a starring role in a Sarasota victory.
SATS TO KNOW
- Brendan Krueger (MF): 0.24 xG, 1 goal, 1 shot assist.
- Anderson Rosa (LWB): 0.22 xG, 0.31 xT, 1 goal, 4 interceptions, balanced attacking and defensive contribution.
- Roberto Burlew (RWB): 100% challenge success, 4 interceptions, key in disrupting Cosmos’ buildup.
- Alex Sutton (GK): 7 saves, 11 recoveries, 2 high claims as Player to Watch.
QUOTES
“Very happy to score my first pro goal, more importantly a huge win on the road against a tough opponent. We feel like we are in a good spot and ready to take the momentum we have built into Saturday!” – Brendan Krueger, Midfielder
“Winning on the road in our league is very difficult. I’m proud of our character and culture which were key for us to get the three points tonight. Now, we regroup and recover and prepare for a tough test against Spokane at home Saturday. We’re looking forward to playing in front of our home fans, and will lean on their support as we continue our quest for results.” – Mika Elovaara, Head Coach
UP NEXT
Paradise will head back home to Premier Sports Campus looking for their third win in four matches as they host Spokane Velocity on Saturday, September 5.