3United faced the Cosmos early Sunday morning in Songjiang. The two teams started the day 3rd and 1st on the table respectively and after facing each other many times in the past two years, both teams knew the battle on the pitch would be a tough one. 3United had given up only 3 goals in the past 3 games, while Jordan has already scored 7 goals in the Cosmos’ past 3 games.

3U have been using their new 3-5-2/3-5-1-1 formation for the new year with ever increasing success but the Cosmos would be the first real test to it’s effectiveness. In addition, to quell the threat of the goal scoring monster, Jordan, we had Derek Yesionowski man-marking him for the full 90 minutes this game.

The game started full force from the get go. The first half saw 35 minutes of domination from 3United eventually resulting in a penalty in the 30th minute. Alvaro Roca took the penalty but the Cosmos keeper read it perfectly and made a great save. Five minute later, Roca had another chance on goal but missed barely wide coming across goal from the right side. The Cosmos took took control of the game for the ending 10 minutes but the half ended scoreless at 0-0.

3United having regrouped at half time, took control again immediately and in the 48th minute, Nick Law received a pass into space outside the box from Kris Goj and put it pass the keepers outstretched hands right under the bar to give 3United the lead. 10 minutes later Alvaro Roca made a run down the left side dragging 2 defenders with him, passing the ball back to Nick Law who then passed it across the box to Jan Schmitz, who then buried the ball into the left side of the net. Even behind 2-0, the Cosmos did not relent and kept pushing hard the rest of the half but it the 3United defense that prevailed this day with the game ending 2-0, 3United.

Goal Scorers:
Nick Law – 49′
Jan Schmitz – 56′
Man of the match:
Derek Yesionowski