READING, PA (May 14, 2021) –  Three things in this world are certain: death, taxes, and Reading United opening their season against Lehigh Valley United. Since Lehigh’s entry into USL League Two (formerly PDL), these two squads separated by nearly 50 miles of Route 222 have met every single season as Reading’s first league match of the season. 2021 will be no different, as Reading travels to Moravian College looking for another season opening win.

Reading will be looking to repeat as Eastern Conference champions, and would become one of the lone USL League Two franchises to ever complete the task. It will be an uphill battle for a team that returns few familiar faces, including new head coach Casey Moore. A mix of local players will look to hold up the high standards set by previous incarnations of the club.

This will be the 14th time these two clubs meet, dating back to Reading’s 2-0 victory in the 2013 U.S. Open Cup over the then defending NPSL Champion. Since then, Reading has compiled an 10-1-1 record against their counterparts to the north.

The 2019 season saw Reading pour five goals onto LVU in both meetings - a 5-2 season opening victory on the road and a 5-0 win to bookend the season. Lehigh nearly shocked Reading in the first meeting, wiping out an early two-goal deficit to knot things at 2-2 at halftime. Reading dumped in three second half goals to pull away for the same margin of victory. The next meeting was never in doubt, as Felipe Hideki netted a hat-trick en route to the 5-0 win.

Lehigh Valley began their 2021 season in similar fashion, falling 5-0 to West Chester United on the road this past Wednesday. Former Reading United players Spencer Burkhardt and Troy Amspacher both scored a goal with an assist, while former RUAC reserves player Carter Burris netted his first USL League Two goal.

Reading and Lehigh have often found themselves at opposite ends of the table, with the 2018 season coming as the most extreme example. Reading finished undefeated with a 12-0-2 record, while Lehigh limped to a 1-12-1 record. LVU did a bit better in 2019, going 4-7-3, but Reading again finished top of the table with a 10-1-3 mark.

Reading travels to West Chester on Wednesday before returning home to Don Thomas Stadium on Friday, May 21st for a 7pm kickoff against Northern Virginia FC. United will be celebrating Youth Night, where all youth soccer players wearing their jerseys will get in for free. Multiple non-profit organizations will also be on hand to promote their services to Berks County youth. Tickets can be purchased at readingunitedac.com/tickets.