READING, Pa. — The Cosmos will begin their latest Lamar Hunt/U.S. Open Cup quest on the road.

The two-time defending North American Soccer League champions will play at Reading United AC after the Premier Development League team defeated the Clarkstown Eagles, 1-0, in a first-round encounter Wednesday night.

Frantzdy Pierrot converted a penalty kick in first-half stoppage time for the lone goal of the match at Exeter Township High School.

It was the sixth consecutive time that Reading won its Open Cup opener, which is a modern record for an amateur team.

Reading played the final 14 minutes of regulation and four minutes of second-half added time after Aaron Molloy was awarded his second yellow card in the 76th minute.

The hosts held on the rest of the way to book a spot in the second round.

They will welcome the Cosmos at Exeter Township H.S. at 7:30 p.m.

“The U.S. Open Cup is a competition we always look forward to play,” Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese said in a statement.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.