Cosmos, Tampa Bay play to scoreless draw

The visiting New York Cosmos played to a scoreless draw with the Tampa Bay Rowdies last night at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg.

It was a back and forth game, but there were few scoring chances.

The Cosmos (1-1-0, four points) had the first real opportunity of the game off a corner. The cross was headed low and to the left of Rowdies goalkeeper Diego Restrepo, but he was able to get down to save it.

Cosmos midfielder Joseph Nane directed a header onto Restrepo's post in the 21st minute and the Cosmos threatened again when midfielder Peri Marosevic played a low cross that forced Restrepo to dive to collect the ball.

The Rowdies then got a solid opportunity to break the deadlock in the 38th minute when forward Carl Cort broke free on goal, but his shot from the top of the 18-yard box was saved by Cosmos goalkeeper Kyle Reynish.

The Rowdies were awarded a free kick from 25 yards out in the 43rd minute that Luke Mulholland sent just wide of Reynish's net.

New York came just short of a goal when midfielder Marcos Senna's shot from close range in the 66th minute was saved by a diving Restrepo. Senna had a free kick saved in the 75th minute from 30 yards out.

The Cosmos also had three shots saved off the goal line in the 77th minute as a result of a corner. Restrepo did well to come back across to block a shot with his legs. The Rowdies went right back and had a goal disallowed for offside against Georgi Hristov.

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