Cosmos midfielder and former Spanish International Marcos Senna converted a dramatic and decisive free kick for the club in a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Rowdies on Sunday to remain on top of the 2013 Fall Season Standings. That goal and his commanding performance in midfield earned him the North American Soccer League Player of the Week honors for the second time during the fall campaign.
“Scoring a goal in that kind of situation was a great feeling because it put us on top and helped the team win,” Senna said, who also won the NASL accolades at the conclusion of Week 5 (Sept. 3). “I am very glad it was a very important goal, above all else. Now it’s behind us though, and time to get ready for Minnesota.”
After trailing by 3-1 at halftime, the Cosmos scored two second-half goals to level the match with 10 minutes remaining. Then, in the 82nd minute, the Spanish midfielder lofted a 23-yard free kick over the Rowdies five-man wall and inside the near post for his third goal of the year to delight the home fans in the crowd of 6,518 at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium.
“Yesterday was a huge win for us, a very important win,” Cosmos coach Giovanni Savarese said. “The players stuck together, created opportunities for each other and finished the game as a team. Marcos was a key part of that again and I was happy he scored that goal. And tomorrow, we get right back to preparing for the next match. It should be another exciting one.”
Savarese said during the post-game press conference that he believed he could se in Senna’s eyes and by the determination he showed demanding the ball to take the free kick that he was about to become the match winner.
“You can tell that a player with the quality of Macos Senna is able to put in that goal and that it was going to be the winner,” Savarese said. “Marcos was able to score a beautiful goal.”
The Rowdies jumped in front in the 20th minute when Luke Mulholland intercepted an attempted clearance and fired it to the right of Cosmos goalkeeper Kyle Reynish.
The Cosmos equalized three minutes later on Peri Marosevic’s second goal of the season. Senna sent a free kick into the 18-yard box where it was headed twice by Cosmos players before falling to Stefan Dimitrov, whose point-blank shot was saved by Rowdies goalkeeper Diego Restrepo. Marosevic pounced on the rebound and bundled the ball into the back of the net to level the score.
However, Georgi Hristov gave the Rowdies the lead again 11 minutes later, touching the ball past an onrushing Reynish in the 34th minute. Evans Frimpong received a long ball from the back and played it to Hristov, who calmly slotted the ball home. Lucky Mkosana extended the Rowdies’ lead in first-half stoppage time, chipping Reynish from just outside the 18-yard box.
Brazilian Paulo Mendes pulled the Cosmos within a goal in the 63rd minute, putting a low shot inside the far post. Diaz equalized for the Cosmos in the 80th minute with a brilliant run through the heart of the Rowdies’ defense, pushing the ball past Restrepo for his team-leading fourth goal of the year.
“It was the kind of emotions I can’t describe,” Diaz said. “It’s a very pleasant feeling. I’m glad I got the chance to score again.”
Two minutes later, Senna gave the Cosmos the lead for good. The former Spanish international’s goal sent the crowd at Hofstra into raptures and secured the Cosmos their fourth home win of the season.
The victory gives the Cosmos a four-point cushion at the top of the NASL Fall season table. The next match for the Cosmos is a trip to Minnesota to play United FC on Oct. 5. The Cosmos are back at Hofstra on Oct. 12 when they host the Carolina Railhawks.
