Photo: Marjorie Elzey

Emulating the first team’s comeback Saturday night, Philadelphia Union II scored two goals in the second half, the first likewise on a penalty kick, to gain points from Chicago Fire FC II. It was the team’s first win of the season.

Brandan Craig was flattened from behind in the box while trying to settle the ball to earn the PK and he struck it low and hard past a correctly diving Spencer Richey. Ten minutes later, 17-year-old David Vazquez, fresh from winning the GA Cup last Sunday, received an excellent feed from Nelson Pierre and struck from close range for the winner.

In the 13th minute Gino Portella’s poor first touch when receiving an ordinary pass back from Richard Odada allowed Chicago striker Missael Rodriguez to intercept and take the lead.

In advance

Because the Union has no midweek game, three extra first team reserves started against Chicago II: goalkeeper Holden Trent, right center back Craig, and striker Chris Donovan. In addition, first team loanee Anton Sorenson made his first remembered start as a right back where in the first half his left-footed service consistently wrong-footed his Chicago marker.

Chicago started all first-team reserves on defense in goal and across the back four, including Saturday night’s second half sub for the first team’s injured starter. They substituted the left side of that backline at the half, and the substitutes committed Craig’s penalty kick foul and allowed the feed from Sorenson to Pierre that produced Vazquez’s winner.

First half

As usually happens early in the season when extra first-teamers start for Union II, it took 15 or 20 minutes for the eleven on the pitch to figure out how to play together. During those opening minutes Chicago had the better of play. But then the game shifted – there was greater Union presence in the attacking half with Chicago forced to counterattacks. That pattern persisted for the rest of the game.

Both teams tried to slice the opponents’ center backs with long balls but as time passed, Union II’s pressing began to deflect Chicago thrusts back into its own defensive half. The half’s last 25 minutes was end-to-end counter thrusting. Union II perhaps had a slight advantage in recycling play back into the attack using its counter-press.

Second half

The second half saw more of the same as Chicago’s halftime substitutes held their own but did not improve matters.

Chicago remained scary on counters, but their midfield’s defensive energy began to flag. More and more Union II succeeded in making passes not directly to feet but to the open spaces into which those feet should run. Chicago did not seem to recognize those spaces and anticipate the runs, and when they did their guests got there first.

Craig’s penalty changed the emotional balance of the match. Chicago remained competitive with a few counter thrusts that tested Union II goalkeeper Holden Trent. But Vazquez seized the lead and the Union’s defense survived one or two moments of rampant confusion when Chicago shooters did not have the poise and skill to bring matters level.

Richey made a nice save late on Union II striker sub Luciano Sanchez, when the young Argentinian had broken away into the box and could have finished things off.

David Vazquez deserves special mention not only for the game winner, but more specifically that the 17-year-old belonged on the pitch. He responded to the challenges placed before him by the speed and intensity of the Orlando two games ago and was an effective, dangerous offensive contributor. One match does not predict a career, but it certainly was a promising data point.

Next match

Union II will host Toronto FC II at Subaru Park at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 23. Toronto lie on zero points in the eastern conference table.

Three points

1. This year’s free kick service illustrates player development. Last year Craig served all of them. This year he does not, presumably because others need the chance to develop those skills.
2. David Vazquez played the full 90 minutes against a Chicago Fire first team reserve defender. His goal was the 1,000^th regular season goal in MLSNP’s history.
3. In his first appearance goalkeeper Holden Trent seemed tentative integrating into the defense moving the ball around the field, but he was authoritative as a shot stopper, He made three perfect 1 v 1 saves against breakaway Chicago attackers coming in alone.

BOXSCORE

Union II lineup (4-2-2-2, L-R)

Starters: Holden Trent; Juan Castillo, Gino Portella, Brandan Craig, Anton Sorenson; Richard Odada, Boubacar Diallo; David Vazquez, Jeremy Rafanello (Stefan Stojanovic 65’); Nelson Pierre (Francis Westfield 90+1’), Chris Donovan (Luciano Sanchez 79’). Unused subs: Brooks Thompson; Devon Stopek, Nathan Nkanji, Luke Martelli, , Pedro Alvarez, Jose Riasco,. 1^st – 7; U II – 8; Acad – 5. Presumed Injured: Hugo Le Guennec.

Starters’ ages

Chicago II lineup

Starters: Spencer Richey; Alonso Acheves (Justin Reynolds 46’), Kendall Burks (Henrique Gallina 46’), Wyatt Omsberg, Jonathan Dean; Harold Osorio (Luka Prpa 46’), Sergio Oregel, Richard Fleming; Alex Monis (Billy Hency 84’), Missael Rodriguez, Noeh Hernandez (Omari Glasgow 67’). Unused subs: Mihaljo Miskovic; Charlie Ostrem, Eric Leonard, Michael Nesci.

Goals

C II       13^th minute       Missael Rodriguez

U II       71^st minute       Brandan Craig (PK)

U II       81^st minute       David Vazquez (Nelson Pierre, Anton Sorenson)

Cards

U II      36^th minute       Yellow       Boubacar Diallo (foul)

C II       50^th minute      Yellow       Sergio Oregel, Jr. (professional foul)

C II       59^th minute      Yellow       Henrique Gallina (foul)

C II       75^th minute      Yellow       Missael Rodriguez (off the ball foul)

U II       85^th minute      Yellow       Gino Portella (foul)

Stats

Whistle

Ref: Greg Dopka, AR¹: Peter Balciunas, AR²: Jake Brochu, 4^TH: Alex B