On the night that legendary forward Raúl was playing his final game, it was his strike partner that stole the spotlight.
Gastón Cellerino fired the New York Cosmos to a seventh NASL title – two in three years in the Modern Era – with his hat trick in the 3-2 win over Ottawa Fury FC.
“It was amazing, no?” Raúl said. “He did a very good job.”
Throughout the 90 minutes of the match, the Argentine forward showcased his strength, composure, and his ability to find the right spots on the field.
He gave the Cosmos an early lead when he fought his way through several Ottawa defenders before firing past Fury FC goalkeeper Romuald Peiser in the 8th minute.
After Fury FC forward Tom Heinemann leveled the match at 1-1 in the 70th minute, Cellerino was just where he needed to be as he helped Walter Restrepo’s chipped effort into the back of the net to restore the lead.
In the 85th minute, Cellerino was on the scoresheet once again, receiving a ball from Raúl and finishing on a breakaway. The third goal proved to be the game-winner as Heinemann added his second of the match in stoppage time.
His three goals on Sunday night didn’t just lift the Cosmos to the 2015 NASL title, but it allowed Raúl and Marcos Senna to retire as champions one last time.
“He’s a strong striker,” head coach Giovanni Savarese. “He makes good runs. When he came here we knew he needed work. There were some games where he didn’t even make the 18 game-day roster. Little by little he started to find his way and today he was fantastic.”
La noche que la legenadaria eastrella del futbol Raul se retira, el argentino Gaston Cellerino aporto hat trick para que Cosmos de nueva York lograra su segundo titulo en los ultimos 3 años en la era moderna de de la NASL…con el 3-2 ante Ottawa Fury FC…
Es brillante, realizo un gran trabajo dijo Raul de Cellerino…
Sus tres goles el domingo le permitieron al Cosmos levantar el trofeo, pero tambien en medio de una gran trsiteza por el retiro de dos hombres claves para ese logro Raul y el Brasileño naturalizado español Marcos Senna…