This past weekend, a team stoked in football history made their first trip to the City of Champions in over 31 years.
The newly reformed New York Cosmos took on FC Edmonton on Sunday at a packed Clarke Stadium, many of whom could remember watching the footballing legends play for New York.
The first half saw limited chances, with shots on goal coming at a premium for both sides as it was scoreless at halftime.
The 59th minute saw Chris Nurse join a wild scramble in front of the Cosmos net, get his 3rd goal of the fall season to open up the scoring, and send the supporters into frenzy.
FC Edmonton's Chris Nurse scores a goal against New York Cosmos at Clarke Stadium on 20 October 2013.
Most of the momentum for the next twenty minutes would be with the Rabbits but they were unable to get an insurance goal to put the match away.
In the 79th minute, controversy would happen as the officials ruled a handball off of Captain Albert Watson just outside of the box, giving the New York Cosmos a dangerous free kick.
The Cosmos’ Marcos Senna stepped up and put the free kick past a sprawling Lance Parker to even up the match, and make the final 22 minutes interesting.
The home side was unable to get it back as the final whistle blew, resulting in the 3rd draw of the fall season for the Rabbits.
A win would have propelled FC Edmonton into 3rd place in the fall tabble, but with the draw they remain in 7th place.
After the match, FC Edmonton manager Colin Miller was proud of his side and believed that the wrong call was made with the handball that set up the equalizing goal.
“There’s no intent there from Albert Watson to play the ball, for sure and it arguably hits him in the FC Edmonton logo, so I think that was a shock to the system.”
Next up for the Rabbits is a match at Minnesota United FC on September 7th.