JOHNSTON, R.I. —  The Cosmos recorded a 2-0 victory over Rhode Island Reds FC at Johnston Stadium to clinch a berth in the National Premier Soccer League playoffs on Sunday night.

First-half goals by striker Bledi Bardic and center back Matt Lewis boosted the Cosmos (10-0-0, 30 points) to their 20th consecutive win since the start of the 2018 season. Rhode Island dropped to 3-5-1.

The North Atlantic Conference leaders completed a perfect week in New England, after besting Boston City FC on Saturday night, 4-1.

Goalkeeper Paul Blanchette recorded the clean sheet.

Bardic, a hat-trick in the 4-1 triumph at the Brooklyn Italians last week, gave the Cosmos all the scoring tehey needed in the seventh minute. He turned went to the top of the penalty area and found some room before powering home an 18-yard shot. It was Bardic’s ninth goal of the season.

Lewis doubled the lead on the half hour, heading home a corner kick.

The Cosmos were denied a third goal midway through the second half as defender Kevin Venegas fired a shot off the crossbar.

The Cosmos have four games remaining in the NPSL regular season and all are at home at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y.

They welcome the Greater Lowell Rough Diamonds on June 23 at 8 p.m., Rhode Island on June 30 at 5 p.m., Brooklyn Italians on July 3 at 8 p.m. and Kingston Stockade FC on July 6 at 7 p.m.

The playoffs most likely would begin the second weekend in July.

 

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.