New York Cosmos B Advances to 2019 NPSL National Championship with 2-0 Win over ASC San Diego
By New York Cosmos B
Midfielders David Diosa and Junior Burgos scored second-half goals to boost New York Cosmos B to a 2-0 victory over ASC San Diego in the NPSL national semifinals at Mitchel Athletic Complex on Saturday night.
Cosmos B will host Miami FC in the national title game on Saturday, August 3rd at 7:00 pm.
Diosa latched onto a through ball from midfielder Ricardo Bocanegra on the right flank and raced through the San Diego defense before beating goalkeeper Jean Antoine from 10 yards for his first goal of the season and a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute.
The 26-year-old midfielder also had a role in Burgos’ goal as he was taken down in the box by San Diego’s Khadim Seye. The Salvadoran stepped up and fired a shot into the lower left corner for a two-goal advantage in the 76th minute.
Goalkeeper Paul Blanchette, who was never severely tested, recorded the shutout. San Diego, the West Region champions, had won its three playoff games on the road.
Cosmos B owned the opening half, but had nothing to show for it.
They enjoyed greater possession than the visitors and made Antoine work on occasion.
Antoine made three saves in the first half to keep the game scoreless. He stopped Isaac Acuna’a close-range volley off Burgos’ long free kick in the 25th minute. He denied Burgos on a 30-yard free kick in the 38th minute before he saved Acuna’s point-blank header a minute later.
When ASC San Diego ventured into Cosmos territory, either the back line or midfield broke up passes or Blanchette scooped up a rare cross.
It was more of the same in the second half as New York forced the issue. Acuna came close again in the 52nd minute as his header bounded off the right post.
Photo Credit: Matthew Levine/New York Cosmos B
