Some NASL fans like to get away

Take a holiday from the same gameday

Hop a flight to NYC or a train to Tampa Bay

But Sunday’s loss at the Cosmos

It’s the fourth straight of its kind

We’re in a RailHawks state of mind

For all the sound and fury throughout Sunday afternoon’s clash between the Carolina RailHawks and New York Cosmos at James M. Shuart Stadium, a few truisms ultimately held fast. The RailHawks gave away another lead. Carolina allowed three goals in a game for the fourth match on the trot. And a week after surrendering a 1-0 halftime lead to the Cosmos in Cary, the RailHawks squandered a 2-1 advantage on their way to a 3-2 loss at New York. It’s Carolina’s fourth consecutive loss and their fifth in six games.

We’ve seen all the soccer stars

In their fancy buses and grand procession

Been high in the standings, now down with Indy Eleven

Don’t know what the team’s needin’

And we don’t want to waste more time

We’re in a RailHawks state of mind

It was déjà vu for Carolina to start as the Cosmos scored just two minutes into the match. An expertly executed set piece ended with Raúl feeding Andres Flores through a flock of RailHawks. Flores settled the ball before blasting it over Carolina goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald for the early 1-0 lead.

But Cosmos-killer Tiyi Shipalane sparked a RailHawks comeback beginning in the 23rd minute. Driving off the left wing, Shipalane left fullback Jimmy Mulligan tumbling onto the turf before laying the ball off to midfielder Nazmi Albadawi charging near post. Albadawi deflected the cross into goal for a 1-1 equalizer.

Shipalane and Albadawi teamed up again in the 42nd to put Carolina ahead. A perfectly weighted through-ball from Shipalane found Albadawi just inside the area. Albadawi’s one-touch attempt from 18 yards out flew past Cosmos keeper Brian Holt to give the RailHawks a 2-1 advantage at intermission. Shipalane’s two first-half assists give him a team-leading seven this season, second-most in the NASL.

As usual, the second half portended misfortune for the RailHawks. In the 62nd minute, Carolina’s Austin da Luz wrapped his arm around striker Lucky Mkosana in the box. Mkosana fell and referee Robert Sibiga whistled a penalty. With RailHawks manager Colin Clarke heard bleating, “We all love the Cosmos!” from the touchline, Raúl slotted his ensuing kick from the penalty spot under a diving Fitzgerald to knot the score at 2-2.

It was so easy livin’ game by game

Out of touch with whether we win or lose

But now we need a little bit of hope

The New York Times, well that’s not good news

In the 66th minute, Carolina defender Daniel Scott inexplicably threw a forearm to the head of Mkosana near midfield, drawing a straight red card and putting the RailHawks a man down. It’s Scott’s second red card offense in his last three games played.

The Cosmos appeared poised to win the match in the 77th minute when Kupono Low -- who entered the match just six minutes earlier -- bodied down Leo Fernandes in the goal box for another RailHawks penalty. However, Raúl’s second PK clanged off the left post to leave the score even.

New York finally put Carolina out of their misery in the 85th minute. A looping ball into the box found Cosmos sub Haji Wright, who settled the orb with his back to goal before laying it over to Mkosana. The Cosmos’ forward converted the easy putaway for the final 3-2 victory margin.

The Cosmos (10-9-1, 39 pts.) remain atop the NASL combined regular season standings. Meanwhile, the RailHawks (5-7-8, 22 pts.) slide into a tie for ninth in the combined standings and last in the fall season table. The RailHawks next return to WakeMed Soccer Park this Friday, Sept. 4 to host the Atlanta Silverbacks in a Labor Day weekend prelude.

It comes down to reality

And it’s fine with us cause we’ve let it slide

We don’t care if it’s #TrafficOut or new owners unidentified

We don’t have any more answers

The season’s left us behind

We’re in a RailHawks state of mind

BOX SCORE

LINEUPS

CAR: Fitzgerald, Wagner (Low, 71’), Danso, Scott, Tobin, Nurse, Hlavaty (Engel, 88’), da Luz, Albadawi, Shipalane, Novo (Catic, 78’)

NYC: Holt, Ayoze, Mendes, (Rovérsio), Cáceres, Mulligan, Moffat, Fernandes (Wright, 81’), Flores, Guenzatti, Mkosana (Szetela, 90’), Raúl

GOALS

CAR: Albadawi, 23’ (Shipalane); Albadawi, 42’ (Shipalane)

NYC: Flores, 2’ (Raúl); Raúl, 62’ (PK); Mkosana, 85’ (Wright)

CAUTIONS

CAR: Hlavaty (19’); da Luz (62’); Albadawi (83’); Tobin (90’)

NYC: Flores (90’)

EJECTIONS

CAR: Scott (66’)

NYC: --

ATTENDANCE: 5,257