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Sinisa Ubiparipovic held his head in his hands after slicing wide a driving shot from just outside penalty area during a stretch of four Fury corner kicks in quick succession.

Tom Heinemann reacted in much the same way twice when he failed to convert golden chances after being sent clear. They were chances he would normally have buried but Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Mauer snuffed out the danger.

Then there were the two decisions that could have turned the game. Coach Dos Santos does not comment on officiating, believing it to be a pointless exercise. But even he must have wondered at the failure of referee David Barrie to even consider a penalty claim when Ubiparipovic was brought down inside the Cosmos box.

Then he did make a call following a corner, judging that Mauer had been knocked over by a Fury shoulder. The call came as the loose ball was being chipped into an empty net. It was another questionable moment and the only chance for the 14,593 fans to cheer a “goal”. They followed it with jeers when the decision came down.

From the point of view of the fans, though, it was an exciting NASL debut at TD Place and one that gave them a clear indication of the quality of the soccer on display.

Certainly NASL commissioner Bill Peterson was bubbling over the show and quick to offer condolences.

“The match was fantastic,” he said. “It’s unfortunate the home team doesn’t get the result but they’re a great squad and they’re going to be trouble at the top of the table for others throughout the rest of this fall season. It’s going to be a good year for this team.”