Raul's goal puts Cosmos in NASL championship game

In soccer, it's not necessarily how you start, but how you finish.

And Raul, one of the game's great finishers, is on the verge of finishing his illustrious career in style.

The 38-year-old Spanish legend made sure of that Saturday, breaking a 1-1 deadlock in the 61st minute and propelling the Cosmos to a 2-1 victory over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League semifinals at MCU Park in Brooklyn.

The Cosmos will play the winner of today's match between Ottawa and Minnesota in Soccer Bowl at Shuart Stadium next Sunday at 5 p.m.

"We have done enough during the year to deserve to be in the final," coach Giovanni Savarese said.

It would be quite fitting for Raul and midfielder Marcos Senna, 39, if they retire as champions in light of the former Spanish internationals' successful careers. Raul is going out with a bang, scoring three goals in his last four matches, tallying his team-best ninth before a crowd of 5,061.

"At the beginning he was trying to get his top shape and I think he is finishing very strong physically and that is very important for him," Savarese said.

Raul's big moment came just after the hour as he latched onto Danny Szetela's feed and beat goalkeeper David Meves from the middle of the penalty area.

The Real Madrid great was not made available to the media, so his coach and teammates had to extol him.

"He's always been that player that puts something of genius in that game," Savarese said.

"Moments of magic," goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer said. "It's ridiculous."

"I've got to talk to him not to retire," said Szetela, who teamed with Senna at central midfield to slow down the Strikers. "These two guys today, it could be their last game, and they're playing like they're 20-years-old."

The Strikers scored first when Victor Giro struck in the 16th minute, converting James Marcelin's pass for a 1-0 lead.

The Cosmos' Gaston Cellerino scored in the 37th minute, tapping in Senna's free kick that Meves punched out, leaving it to Raul to perform his magic in the second half.