Colin Miller may want to work on that pre-game pep talk.

Whatever the FC Edmonton head coach is saying to send his team out on the field is not working as they gave up another early goal in a 4-2 loss, on the road, to the New York Cosmos Sunday afternoon.

FC Edmonton conceded a goal 85 seconds into the game, which was the fourth time this season they’ve fallen behind inside the first minute and a half.

“From a defensive point of few, certainly in the first half, it was very disappointing,” said Miller. “To yet again conceded a goal so early in the game is very disappointing, to say the least. I was amazed at coming into the half, 3-1 down, because I thought we had played some really good football in the first half and created some chances.

“But we we’re playing against a very good team in the Cosmos, there is no question they are certainly the best team that we’ve played so far this season. They’re at the top of the league for a reason.”

Remarkably, the goal Cosmos midfielder Carlos Mendez scored Sunday one minute and 25 seconds into the game was just the fourth-fastest given up by Edmonton this season.

They gave up a goal 11 seconds into their opening game of the year in a 3-1 loss to the Jacksonville Armada. They then gave up a goal just over a minute into a 3-1 win against the Ottawa Fury in an Amway Canadian Championship match and last week, conceded a goal inside of 90 seconds in a 2-2 tie at home to Minnesota United FC.

“I think it’s just a catalogue of things that compounds and all of a sudden the ball is in the back of our net,” Miller said. “I’d rather just smash the ball up the park for five minutes and keep the ball away from our goal as much as we can early on. It’s getting to that stage oddly enough. It’s actually getting embarrassing at the moment that we’re giving away these goals so early.”

FC Edmonton were able to tie the game, gifted a penalty in the 16th minute when referee Alejandro Mariscal spotted an infraction in the penalty area on a ball lofted in from the wing.

Tomi Ameobi stepped up and buried a shot into the roof of the net to tie the game.

The Cosmos, however, were able to restore their lead in the 23rd minute after midfield Daniel Szetela hit the cross bar twice in a span of five seconds before the ball fell to Raul for an easy tap-in.

Mendes added a third in the 36th minute, climbing above everyone and heading a cross into the net.

“Missing (central defender) Albert Watson (to injury) for sure hurt us, you could see it,” Miller said. “You’re missing that experience and a real natural leader back there. The guys to their credit, kept working away, but when you have make changes in the back it’s tough.”

Edmonton midfielder Sainey Nyassi had an opportunity to pull one back for his side with three minutes left in the first half, stepping into a low cross from Eddie Edwards, but hammered the ball just wide.

Four minutes into the second half, New York extended the lead as Lucky Mkosana beat the Edmonton offside trap and walked in alone on VanOekel.

Ritchie Jones scored on a counter-attack, led by Ameobi to pull Edmonton to within two goals, but it was as close as they would get on the day.

“I think there were lots of positives,” Miller said. “I thought Allan (Zebie) did well, I thought Sainey looked dangerous and Tomi, of course, was terrific, probably the man of the match, just the amount of work he put in. There were some real positives, but obviously, we were really disappointed in the goals that we gave away.”

FC Edmonton Game Review

New York Cosmos 4, FC Edmonton 2

Man of the match

Carlos Mendes, Cosmos

Midfielder scored two goals in the win to lead the way for New York. His second goal turned out to be the game winner.

Game Grades

Overall D

Offence B

Defence F

Goalkeeping D

Toughness D

Effort C

Why FC Edmonton lost

They gave up an early goal then spent the rest of the game chasing the ball. They were disorganized at the back, and spent more time ball watching then they did making tackles. The absence of central defender Albert Watson, out due to injury was sorely missed.

Play of the game

Daniel Szetela takes a pass at the top of the box and rockets a shot off the crossbar. The ball comes back to him from a sharp angle and he hits the crossbar again. The ball falls to Raul in front who has an easy tap in for the Cosmos second goal.

Save of the game

Matt VanOekel turns away a long shot with a diving save, then scrambles across his net to get in the way of the rebound.

Up Next

Amway Canadian Championship semifinal first leg, ​FC Edmonton at Vancouver Whitecaps, Wednesday (8 p.m.) BC Place.