Lower Division Recap: Round 26

The logjam in the NASL continues with only three points separating second and sixth, but the New York Cosmos (5-1-3) used a thrilling comeback victory at home over Tampa Bay in a battle for first to move ahead of the pack by four points. Meanwhile, MLS Reserve League action is winding down for the season with three contests in the past week, including an exciting rally at home by Chicago against Montreal.

NORTH AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE

Atlanta survived a red card to Danny Barrera 37 minutes in Saturday, making a 15th minute penalty conversion from Pedro Mendes after Pablo Cruz was taken down in the box stand as the 1-0 winner versus visiting Edmonton. It was also a dead ball that provided the 1-0 win for Minnesota at home as a corner from Simone Bracalello was put away by Pablo Campos to top San Antonio.

The RailHawks completed the home team shutout sweep Saturday with a 2-0 decision over Fort Lauderdale. Breiner Ortiz scored from long range in the 63rd and Brian Ackley converted a penalty with 10 minutes left after Cesar Elizondo was fouled in the area.

The showdown for first on Sunday between New York and Tampa Bay turned out to be a back-and-forth contest that completely contrasted the previous day's games - though set pieces factored again - and finished with nearly twice as many goals as they did combined. The visiting Rowdies took the lead 20 minutes in when Luke Mulholland stole a clearance and scored only to see the hosts pull even three minutes later via Peri Marosevic, who scored on a second chance effort after a free kick. Georgi Hristov restored the Tampa Bay lead in the 34th and Lucky Mkosana pushed the lead to two in stoppage time. The second half, though, belonged to New York with Paulo Mendes scoring in the 63rd on a play similar to Mulholland's and Diomar Diaz evening things up in the 80th. Two minutes later Marcos Senna delivered the 4-3 winner on a 23-yard free kick for the Cosmos, putting them four points clear of the Rowdies, RailHawks and Minnesota at the top of the table

SATURDAY, September 28

Edmonton 0 :: 1 Atlanta
ATL: Pedro Mendes (pen) 15
~ ATL: Danny Barrera (ejection) 37

San Antonio 0 :: 1 Minnesota 
MIN: Pablo Campos (Simone Bracalello) 61

Fort Lauderdale 0 :: 2 Carolina
CAR: Breiner Ortiz 63, Brian Ackley 80

SUNDAY, September 29

Tampa Bay 3 :: 4 New York
TB: Luke Mulholland 20, Georgi Hristov (Eric Frimpong) 34, Lucky Mkosana (Devin Del Do) 46+
NY: Peri Marosevic 23, Paulo Mendes 63, Diomar Diaz (Marcos Senna) 80, Marcos Senna 82

MLS RESERVE LEAGUE

It was a light week in the MLS Reserve League with just three contests. RSL wrapped up their Reserve League campaign Tuesday, finishing 6-4-4 and ranking third in the West at 1.5 points per game with a 2-0 win over Chivas USA. Sebastian Velasquez finished with a goal and an assist, scoring from the spot after Olmes Garcia was fouled attempt to collect his own rebound and combining with Lovel Palmer to set up Nick Jackson in the 90th minute.

The following day Toronto claimed the lead at Dallas only to see the hosts rally for the 3-1 win. Manny Aparicio and Jonas Elmer combined to find Kyle Bekker 24 minutes for a 25 yard rip, but Dallas answered just five minutes later. Danny Garcia found Kenny Cooper, who sent Ramon Nunuz through with a heel pass to even things up. Nunez added a second just before the break, when he struck from 30 on a ball from Michel, who capped the game with the lone tally from the spot in the second half, converting off the underside of the bar after Garcia was taken down in the box.

Sunday's contest between Chicago and Montreal was a reversal of the script the day before with Chicago rallying at home from two down. Daniele Paponi scored twice in the first 17 minutes, breaking behind the defense and scoring on his own rebound in the fifth minute after an initial stop from Alec Kann. In the 17th minute he added his second with a curling effort. Not to be outdone, Quincy Amarikwa repeated the feat, scoring twice in a five minute span to even it up before the break. The first came in the 22nd minute on a Daniel Paladinia corner that deflected a few times before he could nod it in from six yards. The second came directly off a 35 yard free kick from Paladini in the 26th. Corben Bone created the winner in the 61st when he drove into the box and sent the ball across the six for Maicon Santos to put away.

TUESDAY, September 24

Chivas USA 0 :: 2 Real Salt Lake
RSL: Sebastian Velasquez (pen) 67, Nick Jackson (Lovel Palmer, Sebastian Velasquez) 90

WEDNESDAY, September 25

Toronto FC 1 :: 3 FC Dallas
TOR: Kyle Bekker (Manny Aparicio, Jonas Elmer) 24
DAL: Ramon Nunez (Kenny Cooper, Danny Garcia) 29, Ramon Nunez (Michel) 43, Michel (pen) 62

SUNDAY, September 29

Montreal Impact 2 :: 3 Chicago Fire 
MTL: Daniele Paponi (Andrea Pisanu) 5, Daniele Paponi (Zak Messoudi) 17
CHI: Quincy Amarikwa 22, Quincy Amarikwa (Daniel Paladini) 26, Maicon Santos (Corben Bone) 61

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