Red Card, Own Goals Prove Costly in Boston City’s Debut
- Updated: May 1, 2016
Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz
MALDEN, Mass. – Boston City FC put on an impressive display in their inaugural match, but ultimately were responsible for their own demise, with a red card and two own goals proving costly as they fell 3-1 to defending NPSL Champions New York Cosmos B in front of 927 at Gilbert Stadium at Malden Catholic High School in Malden, Mass. on Sunday evening. Cosmos B still have yet to lose a match since their debut last season.
“I liked the first half a lot,” said Boston City head coach Palhinha through a translator. “Our team was marking very good, they were playing defense. We had two opportunities in the first half when the ball hit the crossbar off a free kick and another one that Jhonata [Batista] hit and put in the corner and the goalkeeper made the save. When you play against a big team and you don’t score, you kind of chase your own tail and you’re going to get it in the end. The red card for Yaw [Addow] also complicated things for the way we were playing, but I’m very content for the way the team played and I know that going forward things are going to be good.”
Yaw Addow opened the scoring for Boston City in the 33rd minute as the upset-minded home side looked the better of the two sides in the first half, but their efforts began to unravel just before halftime as Addow saw his second yellow card and was ejected, leaving the team down a man for the rest of the match. Boston City then conceded own goals in the 66th and 75th minutes to fall behind, before Cosmos B substitute Sean Rodriguez put the game away with a header off a corner kick in the 83rd minute, giving the game its final 3-1 scoreline.
“I think our team started very well this game,” said Boston City defender Gabriel De Souza through a translator. “Even though we were a little nervous debuting, first touches. We were a little faulted by that red card in the first half. Not taking away from the Cosmos, who played very well, but I think it was our team that we hurt ourselves in the end and I think that’s normal first game in our history. That’s how soccer works, but I think as the league keeps on going, you’re going to see our quality.”
Boston City FC looked the better of the two sides in the early going and grabbed the lead through Addow in the 33rd minute off a corner kick. Jadilson Vieira, who was dangerous for the team all night, sent in service to the far post where Addow rose above the defense to head it home.
But Addow’s role as hero would be short lived as the physical striker, who earned the first yellow card in Boston City history in just the ninth minute, was sent off just before halftime with his second yellow card for a challenge near midfield.
The home side held on valiantly from there until the 66th minute when a shot from the Cosmos’ Gaston Sanchez deflected in off a Boston City defender for an own goal leaving Neneca, who had an impressive performance for Boston City in net, with no chance and knotted the score at 1-1.
Nine minutes later a Sanchez free kick was headed past Neneca by a Boston City defender for the second own goal of the night, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead.
Cosmos B would then wrap up the scoring in the 83rd minute with Gonzalo Rodriguez heading in a corner kick to make it 3-1.
Boston City remains home and face Seacoast United Phantoms at Malden Catholic High School on Saturday, May 7 at 6p.m.
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