The Cosmos begin the 2017 Lamar Hunt Open Cup Campaign on the road against Reading United Athletic Club, 7:00pm Wednesday at Shirk Stadium on the campus of Albright College in Reading, PA. Reading earned the right to host the match by virtue of their 1-0 win over Clarkstown SC Eagles in the 1^st-round of the nation’s oldest and the world’s 3^rd-longest-running open soccer tournament.

Although the openness of the Open Cup allows for inter-league competition, clubs and franchises enter the tournament at different rounds, depending upon the league in which they regularly compete. This year, NASL clubs enter in the 2nd-round and MLS franchises will enter in the 4^th-round. Last week’s defeat of Clarkstown was the 6^th-consecutive 1^st-round win for Reading United, setting an Open Cup record.

Frantzdy Pierrot’s penalty kick in first-half stoppage time was the game’s only goal. The 6’3” Haitian international striker earned the attempt when he was fouled after receiving a long pass delivered by French midfielder Hugo Delhommelle down the right flank. Despite the loss of defender Jorge Guinovart from a head injury and the dismissal of midfielder Aaron Molloy for a second yellow-card in the 76^th minute, holding on in a chippy battle against the Rockland County side.

The defending champions of the Mid Atlantic Division of the Premier Development League, Reading United began their 2017 regular season last Saturday with a local derby win against Lehigh Valley United. Khori Bennet, Pierrot, and Aaron Molloy scored in the 3-1 win. Playmaker Delhommelle, a product of Stade Rennais FC had two assists in the contest.

When the Cosmos watch match film in preparation and see the icing-on-the-cake goal, a 34-yard rocket of a strike from Aaron Molloy, Coach Savarese and his charges may be relieved Molloy’s red card exit against Clarkstown means he won’t face them.

Dublin, Ireland native Stephen Hogan is in his second-year as head coach of the Blue and Gold. The former captain is tied for second-most appearances for the club all-time, having played holding midfield for Reading United in 52 matches from 2007 to 2010.

North America’s most fabled soccer club face a Reading United side with a rich history of its own, tracing its roots to the Germania Soccer Club, formed in the early 1900s by German immigrants to Berks County. That club evolved and spawned the Reading Berks Select program, which gave birth to the Reading Rage, which began play in the D3Pro League in 1996. As the Rage, Reading won the 2009 PDL Regular Season National Championship. Beginning with the 2010 season, the club rebranded to their current identity when they became an affiliate of the Philadelphia Union MLS franchise. The amateur side last defeated professionals when they beat the Harrisburg City Islanders in the second-round of the 2013 Open Cup.

The match will mark the start of the Cosmos’ fourth campaign in the Open Cup. Having reached the Round of 16 each of the last three years, a heart-breaking 2-3 loss to the New England Revolution ended an exciting 2016 Open Cup run, which began with a 2-0 win in the 3^rd round over Jersey Express SC and a 0-1 derby win in the 4^th round over MLS franchise NYCFC.

The winner of the match in Reading will meet the winner of the Ocean City Nor-easters v Harrisburg City Islanders match in the 3^rd round of the 2017 Open Cup.

Supporters from the Five Points are organizing a convoy of vans to support the Cosmos on the road, making sure the Cosmos will be ready for the strong Reading United AC side. The traveling New Yorkers have not lost on the road this year, having won their first home match in thrilling fashion 4-3 against Puerto Rico FC in NASL action at Coney Island on Mother’s Day.

The next morning, the Cosmos depart on Emirates Airlines for the historic international exhibition match against Al-Hilal in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With three matches in one week, it is one match at a time, as Head Coach Giovanni Savarese always preaches to his players. With the week already off to a memorable start, the Cosmos hope to rest winning legs on the flight and make this an action-packed week to remember. First things first, the Cosmos will take nothing for granted and are focused on beginning the Open Cup campaign with a win on the road at Reading.