Spokane, WA- Spokane Velocity’s red-hot start to the season continued on a sunny afternoon at ONE Spokane Stadium versus the New York Cosmos. The teams’ first ever meeting resulted in an imposing display by Leigh Vediman’s men, leaving the team with a welcome 2 wins out of 2 matches played to kick off the 2026 USL League 1 season.
The first 20 minutes of the match were largely made up of lively passages of play from the Cosmos. However, that soon came to a screeching halt, as Spokane’s offensive firepower began to chip away at New York’s backline. Ultimately, the floodgates were opened by a tidy passage of play from the Velocity, which ended in Simon Fitch finding the feet of Jack Denton, who for the first time in 336 days, buried a ball in the back of the net.
Photo credit: Spokane Velocity
The Spokane onslaught continued throughout the first half, with captain Luis Gil delivering an exceptional pass to Neco Brett in the 39th minute, who was taken down in the 18-yard box by the Cosmos goalkeeper. Shortly after, Gil wheeled away in celebration following an expertly taken penalty kick.
Less than 5 minutes later, the Velocity once again capitalized off of a well-executed team goal, involving a Shavon John Brown low-driven cross to the right boot of Neco Brett, who calmly passed it to the back of the net for a 3-0 Spokane lead going into half-time.
Photo credit: Spokane Velocity
The second 45 minutes of the match served to highlight that while the Velocity’s brand of football revolves around their offensive prowess, their defense deserves their flowers as well. Besides a minor blip in the form of a New York Cosmos 46th minute goal, Spokane managed to hunker down and preserve their first half lead. Highlighted by a Cameron Miller masterclass at centerback, fans caught a glimpse of the team’s capabilities on both sides of the ball.
Photo credit: Spokane Velocity
Additional storylines of note include the USL League 1 debut of 18-year old Rocky Wells- which marks a historic moment for Spokane’s first-ever academy signing. This match also served as the inaugural meeting between the Spokane Velocity and the New York Cosmos- a historic franchise, best known for having been the home of global footballing icon Pele from 1975 to 1977.
Spokane will now turn its attention to the Charlotte Indepence, as they travel to North Carolina for their 3rd match of the young season. The team will be back at ONE Spokane Stadium on April 7th to take on AV Alta FC
Cover Photo: Spokane Velocity
