Charlie Ledula scored twice in the opening half and Aly Alberto Hassan added two more in the second half to boost the New York Cosmos to a 7-1 National Premier Soccer League victory over the Greater Lowell Rough Diamonds at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday night.
Junior Burgos, Salvatore Barone, and Bledi Bardic added goals for the Cosmos (4-0), who scored a season-high seven goals.
Burgos lifted the Cosmos into the lead in the 23rd minute with a penalty kick after Pedro Galvao was taken down in the box. The Salvadoran international rifled his attempt into the left side of the net past goalkeeper Jack Rivers.
Ledula doubled the advantage on the half hour as he knocked home a feed from David Diosa.
Ten 10 minutes later, Ledula scored from close range for a 3-0 halftime margin.
The Cosmos had their NPSL shutout streak snapped at 325 minutes after a Rough Diamonds player was taken down in the penalty area. Luke Neves drilled his attempt past goalkeeper Jesse Corke in the 55th minute. New York still hasn’t allowed a goal in the run of play over four matches.
Kevin Tenjo and Corke made their season debuts, shared the goalkeeping duties for New York. Tenjo played the first half, Corke the second.
Barone restored the Cosmos’ three-goal lead 62nd minute as he fired a 35-yard free kick from the right side that went off River’s hands and into the net.
Hassan took center stage on the next two goals in the 70th and 76th minutes, respectively.
Rivers spilled the former LIU C.W. Post standout’s cross and Hassan was right in front of the keeper to slot the ball home for a 5-1 lead. Five minutes later, Hassan converted a left-wing cross to boost the visitors to a 6-1 lead.
Bardic, who tallied twice in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, closed out the rout with his first NPSL goal, from close range in the 88th minute.
The Cosmos conclude their New England road swing with a game at Hartford City FC at Central Connecticut State University on Sunday at 4 p.m.
They return home to face FC St. Pauli (Germany) in an international friendly at Rocco B. Commisso Stadium in New York City on Thursday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m.
The Cosmos’ next NPSL home match will be against Hartford City at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y., on Saturday, June 1, at 8 p.m.
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