Bangladeshi midfielder Shamit Som marked his 29th birthday with an outstanding performance, providing two assists as New York Cosmos secured a 4-2 victory over Fort Wayne FC in a USL League One fixture.
Playing the match just a day after turning 29, Shamit emerged as one of the most influential players on the pitch. His passing, movement and ability to create openings from midfield helped Cosmos establish control early in the contest and ultimately secure a convincing victory.
New York started brightly and quickly looked to dominate possession and territory. Shamit played a central role in that approach, repeatedly finding teammates with accurate passes and looking to exploit spaces behind the opposition defence.
His first decisive contribution came shortly before half-time. In the 44th minute, Shamit produced a well-weighted through ball that split the Fort Wayne defence and allowed forward Jauneh Lamine to finish and put Cosmos ahead.
The Bangladeshi midfielder was at the heart of another important move early in the second half. Once again, he found space between the defensive lines before sending a precise through pass into the path of Lamine. The forward made no mistake, scoring his second goal and extending Cosmos’ advantage to 3-0.
Fort Wayne attempted to fight their way back into the match late on, reducing the deficit and putting pressure on the visitors. Cosmos, however, managed to withstand the challenge. Lamine eventually completed his hat-trick, while the team’s overall control in midfield helped them maintain enough composure to finish the match 4-2 winners.
Shamit’s contribution was not limited to his two assists. His match statistics reflected a balanced midfield display. He recorded 45 touches and completed 30 of his 36 passes, giving him an 83 per cent passing success rate. He was also effective with longer distribution, completing four of his five long-ball attempts.
The midfielder also created another major scoring opportunity during the match, underlining his influence in the final third. His ability to combine accurate distribution with forward movement gave Cosmos an additional route through the Fort Wayne defensive structure.
Defensively, Shamit remained equally committed. He made three tackles, two clearances and two recoveries, while also blocking one shot. Those contributions helped him remain involved even when his side were forced to defend during Fort Wayne’s late push.
The victory also represents a positive start to Shamit’s involvement with the American club. He has now made three appearances for New York Cosmos and has started all three matches, indicating that he has quickly established himself as a regular option in the starting line-up.
For a midfielder, producing two assists while also contributing defensively is a strong indication of an all-round performance. Shamit’s display against Fort Wayne combined creativity with discipline, helping Cosmos turn early control into a convincing result.
With his role continuing to grow in the United States, performances of this quality will provide encouraging signs for Shamit and those following his progress in American football. His latest outing was particularly memorable, coming immediately after his 29th birthday and ending with two assists and a valuable victory for his club.
