New York, New York: Cosmos defeat Express to secure matchup with NYCFC in US Open Cup

QUEENS, N.Y. – Bring on the boys from New York City.

The New York Cosmos defeated the Jersey Express 3-0 to secure a date with NYCFC in the fourth round of the US Open Cup. The Cosmos controlled much of the 90-minute affair being held in front of 1,394 fans at Belson Stadium on the campus of ST. Johns University.

Leo Fernandes scored the opening goal for the NASL club 14-minutes in. He scored off a 22-yard free kick unassisted to make it 1-0 New York. Fernandes found a way to contribute again later in the half setting up Sebastion Guenzatti for the second goal of the game.

Guenzatti beat two defenders and put a shot past the divining Express goalkeeper Matthew Turner. Mads Stokkelien scored on a penalty kick in the 81^st minute after Sylvain N’guessan was given a red card.

The Cosmos finished the match with the edge in shots, 13 to 8, and corners, 15 to 0. Jimmy Mauer only had to make three saves in the win.

Coincidentally, the Open Cup win comes almost a year to the day the Cosmos beat the Brooklyn Italians in their first ever match in the tournament. Wednesday’s 3-0 win also set up another New York-New York contest, with Cosmos slated to face MLS expansion club NYCFC.

Last year in the US Open Cup, the Cosmos met the New York Red Bulls at Shuart Stadium on Long Island. The Cosmos beat the MLS side 3-0 in a contest that the home squad billed as the "battle for New York." Now they will have the chance for a sweep of both New York MLS teams with a win over NYCFC.

The second installment of the battle of New York will take place on June 17 at 7:30, but the Cosmos have several matches to concentrate on before that. The Cosmos travel to Minnesota this weekend and then head to Cuba for a friendly with the Cuban national team on June 2.