RECAP | Strikers 3, Cosmos 3

Sebastián Guenzatti scored in second-half stoppage time as the New York Cosmos rallied from a three-goal deficit to draw the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Lockhart Stadium on Saturday night.

Walter Ramirez scored twice and helped set up Gabriel’s opening goal for the Strikers, who have yet to beat the Cosmos in the Modern Era.

Gabriel scored from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute after referee Marcos De Oliveira ruled Walter Restrepo tripped Ramirez, who dribbled into the box. Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer guessed correctly and dove to his right, but couldn’t stop the Brazilian’s well-struck and perfectly placed low penalty.

Three minutes into the second half, the Strikers were awarded a second penalty kick when Ayoze pushed PC from behind on a cross in front of goal. Ramirez put his attempt off the post and Maurer before spinning in.

Ramirez added his second in the 59th minute on a spectacular solo effort. After receiving a heel pass from PC, Ramirez exploded into open space, fought off a challenge by Adam Moffat and rounded Maurer before slotting inside the far post to give the Strikers a 3-0 lead.

The Cosmos pulled a goal back three minutes later when Leo Fernandes latched onto a Hunter Freeman cross and put a downward header inside the back post.

Freeman was dangerous with another service in the 64th minute, but Samuel Cáceres headed off the crossbar.

A stunning long-distance strike by Adam Moffat cut the Cosmos deficit to 3-2 in the 66th minute. The midfielder, who was part of a double substitution in the 50th minute, won a 50-50 challenge in midfield and unleashed a blast from 26 yards past the outstretched arms of Fort Lauderdale goalkeeper Josh Ford.

Guenzatti, another second-half substitute, provided the dramatic equalizer when he tapped in from eight yards out after Freeman played a Moffat cross back in front of the net.

Fort Lauderdale attacked from the outset and had several chances to take the lead inside the opening 10 minutes. First it was Gabriel who received a cross from Ivan Guerrero, but bounced his attempt wide from 12 yards out and PC followed with a 20-yard volley that forced Maurer into a diving save in the fifth minute.

Two minutes later, an unmarked Hendry Thomas latched onto a corner and headed it off the near post from eight yards.

Momentum shifted the way of the Cosmos and in the 15th minute Fernandes chested down an attempted Fort Lauderdale clearance, but put his low shot wide of the far post from 22 yards.

Making his first NASL start, U.S. Under-17 national team standout Haji Wright used his speed to get behind the Strikers defense, but his shot from the top of the 18-yard box was bravely blocked and deflected out for a Cosmos corner in the 17th minute.