New York Cosmos B spoiled Boston City FC’s 2018 home opener on Sunday night, riding a dominant first-half performance to a 4-0 win over the third-year NPSL side.
Darwin Espinal, a Honduran forward, scored in the 19th and 72nd minutes to pace the former NASL squad, while center back Alejandro Penzini and captain Danny Szetela chipped in goals of their own in the eighth and 44th minutes, respectively.
For first-year head coach Carlos Mendes, it was exactly the type of performance his team needed to hit the ground running.
“We’ve got guys who have played for the first team and guys who have played at a high level,” Mendes said. “We know it’s not going to be easy and every game poses a challenge. For us, we have to continue to grow if we want to be successful in the league and be successful in the [Open] Cup.”
The lopsided scoreline was helped along mightily by New York’s midfield, anchored by a former U.S. international in Szetela and Rafael Garcia, who’s won two MLS Cups with the LA Galaxy.
With Szetela and Garcia dictating the tempo and possession, Boston City was often left chasing the ball, forcing head coach Palhinha into several tactical substitutions. Szetela was still left wanting more, though.
“At times we did a very good job, but at times we were a little too panicky,” Szetela said. “We need to improve on that, but it’s the first game of the season, a lot of young talent on this team. A lot of leaders on this team, veteran guys.”
The match marked the NPSL debut of Boston City goalkeeper Wouter Dronkers, who grew up in the youth systems of Dutch sides Vitesse and FC Twente, though is currently studying at Harvard Medical School to become a surgeon. He kept the scoreline from widening, and drew praise from teammate Marcelo Cunha.
“He has a lot of experience from playing over in the Netherlands,” Cunha, an All-American at Division III school UMass Boston, said. “He’s a great player. He made some big saves and kept us in the game. It’s still 4-0, but I don’t think any of the goals were his fault.”
It was the Cosmos’ quick-strike attack, however, which settled the match well before the halftime whistle. They constantly attacked the Lions’ left side through Montegran winger Bljedi Bardic.
Bardic assisted Espinal’s first strike in the 19th minute, and hit the post head-on following a breakaway in the 71st.
“[Bardic] makes it difficult on defenders and his work rate is tremendous,” Mendes said. “He’s a very, very important piece for us. I thought he was excellent for us tonight.”
That all formed a solid building block for the Cosmos, who now await a U.S Open Cup game vs. the Brooklyn Italians next Sunday.
Mendes, who said he regularly talks with current Portland Timbers head coach Giovanni Saverese for advice, stressed that date has long been circled on the Cosmos’ calendar. Szetela agreed, adding New York’s drop into the NPSL doesn’t mean their effort or intent drops as well.
“We got Open Cup and it’s the NPSL, but we’re still playing and doing what we love to do,” Szetela said. “There are tons of players who would love to be here playing on the Cosmos right now.”
