Raul helps the NY Cosmos to win the North American Soccer League Bowl on his last ever match as a professional footballer. After netting 40 goals in 98 matches for Schalke 04 and helping the Bundesliga side to the 2011 Champions League semifinals, Raul departed in 2012 for Qatar’s Al-Sadd and joined the Cosmos in December 2014.
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The end of a fantastic career.
The typically composed Canadian side was left completely stunned by Cellerino’s strong individual effort and preceded to have a number of gaffes when trying to clear the ball from danger. The Cosmos have grown and they’re part of that.
Fellow Spaniard and Cosmos team-mate Marcos Senna also retired after the final this weekend.
Only seconds after the interval Cellarino missed a golden opportunity to double the lead when he wasted a gorgeous pass from Walter Restrepo in the 46th minute. The striker displayed the sublime touch that has made him a world class player throughout his career when he perfectly one-timed a bouncing ball into space for Cellerino, but the attacker pulled his shot a foot wide of the post.
The Fury was unbeaten in a league-record 13 games (8-0-5) before Sunday, with just one loss in its previous 26 matches overall (with 15 wins).
The club’s appreciation was evident as Cosmos players lifted Raul and Senna into the air in a post-game tribute.
“As coach, you want these players in the final”. A controversial call denied them from extending their lead on their next promising opportunity in the 67th minute.
Cellerino opened the scoring with eight minutes on the clock as he reacted quickest to finish off a Danny Szetela knockdown.
In the 68th minute, Mason Trafford got tangled up with the Cosmos Sebastian Guenzatti, with both players appearing to have committed fouls. An ill-advised high kick found Ottawa midfielder Mauro Eustaquio in the face and he was given a yellow card by the referee Alan Kelly in the seventh minute.
Cellerino kept his feet under pressure from the Ottawa defence and scored under goalkeeper Romuald Peiser.
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But the defence was caught napping and flat-footed on Cellerino’s opening goal. It took a slight touch off a defender and Cellerino was there to tap it in.
