The New York Cosmos’ 372-minute shutout streak ended on Saturday in a 1-0 defeat against the San Antonio Scorpions.
But head coach Gio Savarese said after the game that he isn’t worried about his team’s performance.
“I feel better coming out of this game than I did when we won 4-0,” Savarese said. “We played good soccer today.”
Savarese said his team “dominated” the game and were unlucky in not being able to get the ball into the back of the net.
“If we play this game nine times more, I don’t think we’ll get this result,” he said.
Cosmos goalkeeper James Maurer saved a shot by Danny Berrera in the 15th minute but was unable to make a second save when Scorpions forward Eric Hassli headed the ball into the back of the net.
“It was just really unlucky,” Maurer said after the game. “I made the first save and I just couldn’t hold it.”
The rest of the game belonged to the Cosmos, as the New York team maintained 57 percent of the possession and out shot San Antonio 21 to 5.
The Scorpions defense was able to keep any chances from getting into the back of the net, which head coach Alen Marcina reportedly said was something the team focused on before the game.
“The guys executed the plan with discipline and precision to earn a well deserved win on the road against a tough opponent,” Marcina said. “We’ll look to continue improving and growing as a team, and it’ll be fantastic to play in front of our home crowd for this upcoming stretch.”
Cosmos forward Mads Stokkelein had several chances to get on the score sheet, including a last-minute strike just before halftime that went wide.
“As a striker you have one of these days where the ball doesn’t go into the back of the net,” Stokkelein said after the game. “Today was one of those days.”
Marcus Senna had two chances in the final minute of the game to send a free kick into the Scorpion’s goal but was blocked by a wall of San Antonio defenders on both attempts.
Prior to the 15th-minute goal, the Cosmos held the longest running shutout streak in the NASL’s modern era.
The loss is also the Cosmos’ first-ever loss at Hofstra University.
The loss drops the Cosmos from first place to second place in the NASL standings, behind Minnesota United FC.
The Cosmos next game is an away game against the Carolina Railhawks on May 3.
