Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union II Communications
In almost the exact opposite of what happened at Montclair State University Soccer Park a month ago, New York Red Bull II dominated Philadelphia Union II 4-1 Wednesday night in Chester.
A lost possession by the Union II midfield in the 5th minute quickly became a 5 v 2 break against the remaining two Union defenders and led to an easy goal by striker Frank Ssebufu that with hindsight effectively ended the contest.
This time Red Bull II’s speed and athleticism turned the tables and virtually duplicated Union II’s 5-1 victory of May 26.
In Advance
When Union II visited Red Bull II on May 26, they scored more goals than they had ever scored against the north Jerseyites (5), and Union II’s margin of victory against them was the largest it has ever been (4). Red Bull II was loaded for bear, and in the first half there was little contest.
Red Bull II lost their leading scorer to a season-ending injury a week before the May 26th meeting. Mentaly they have bounced back.
Andrew Rick was suspended for his two yellow cards, both during stoppage time, last time out against Crown Legacy in North Carolina. Neil Pierre played every minute of MLS NEXT Cup and so did not dress. Because Olwethu Makhanya is third on the depth chart with Damion Lowe away with Jamaica, neither did he. And because Sanders Ngabo is a substitute backing up Leon Flach at defensive midfielder while Jose Martinez is away with Venezuela, he was available for only 45 minutes.
That meant the entire defensive triangle in the central channel was new, and it showed.
The end of the MLS NEXT Cup playoffs combined with YSC Academy’s graduation means that Union II’s summer transition, from the birth-year 2006s to the 2007s as its primary source of amateurs, is now underway. The new group will have some time off and then will try out, so in July and August there will be fewer amateurs on game day rosters than earlier. Four of the graduated 20o7s, goal scorer Eddie Davis, substitute Alex Perez, and “benchies” Jack Andrus, and Ryan Zellefrow, were available on the night.
First Half
New York enjoyed a pace advantage when 1 v 1 vs center backs Gavin Wetzel and Carlos Rojas. For the most part, the replacement combination dealt with the challenge well, but two goals had been surrendered by half time. Luck played a part in the second, in that the shot struck Rojas on the chest and became a chip off the cross bar rather than a blast, wrong-footing Union II goalkeeper Holden Trent.
Second Half
Coach LeBLanc made two subs at halftime, taking off midfielder Nick Pariano who had twice missed open nets and striker Sal Olivas who had suffered a hard knock to a shin.
Red Bull II’s energy level was considerably lessened. But they remained lethal on the counterattack as is their fundamental philosophy. Malick Dembele easily headed home a cross in the 63rd minute to go with his earlier chip and assist, and then Trent gave up a penalty kick in the 72nd to put the match beyond reach.
Union striker Davis pulled one back in the 84th, to prevent the clean sheet, but the result was never under serious threat.
Cavan Sullivan
The young homegrown attacking midfielder started and played his first full 90 minute match for Union II taking the next step on his path to a more powerful, longer enduring engine. Every once in a while his youth shows when he gets knocked off the ball. But otherwise he clearly belongs on the MLS NEXT Pro pitch both defensively and offensively.
We should not expect him to see 90 minutes this coming Sunday in Canada, as he will need a full recovery. But he has raised his game to the MLS NEXT Pro level. If he continues to progress at his current rate, he may well debut for the first team with more than just a cameo before the season is over.
Next Match
Union II next plays Sunday, June 30 in York, Ontario, Canada against Toronto FC II, the day after the first team will have played in Montreal. Since Damion Lowe and Jose Martinez will still be with Jamaica and Venezuela, we expect that Olwethu Makhanaya and Sanders Ngabo may not be available, because they will have been emergency reserves in Quebec’s capital city. Of course there are probably plane flights.
Three Points + One
- Randy Meneses started as a single six defensive midfielder and then became a right center back when Carlos Rojas came off in the 68th. He played the full 90 minutes.
- The center back combination of Wetzel and Rojas defended credibly for the most part. Their offensive distribution was noticeably hesitant.
- We suspect that CJ Olney and David Vazquez did not dress to preserve them against potential emergencies with the first team this coming Saturday.
- Holden Trent got the game in goal indicating he is now game healthy. It has been a long siege.
BOXSCORE
Lineups
Union II (4-1-2-1-2, LR) 1st – 5, U II – 7, Am – 3, Teenagers — 10.
Starters: Holden Trent: Frank Westfield, Carlos Rojas (Alex Perez 68′), Gavin Wetzel, Jamir Berdecio; Randy Meneses; Giovanny Sequeray (Kyle Tucker 68′), Nick Pariano (Sanders Ngabo HT); Cavan Sullivan; Edward Davis III, Sal Olivas (Leandro Soria HT).
Starters’ Ages: Average age = 19.5
| Trent | Westfield | Rojas | Wetzel | Berdecio | Meneses |
| 25.0 | 18.5 | 20.4 | 17.8 | 21.9 | 20.2 |
| Sequera | Pariano | C Sullivan | Davis | Olivas | |
| 18.4 | 21.3 | 14.7 | 18.0 | 18.0 |
Unused Substitutes: Mike Sheridan; Jack Andrus, Ryan Zellefrow.
Red Bull II (4-3-3)
Starters: Aidan Stokes; Curtis Ofori, Aidan O’Connor (Matthew Dos Santos 85′), Juan Gutierrez, Copeland Berkley (Adri Mehmeti 60′); Rafael Mosquera (Aidan Jarvis 72′), Bento Estrela (Juan Mina 60′), Steven Sserwada; Malik Dembele, Tanner Rosborough (Jair Collahuazo 85′), Frank Ssebufu.
Unused substitutes: Davi Alexandre, Dallas Odle, Alan Rutkowski,
Goals
Red Bull II 5th minute Frank Ssebufu (Malik Dembele)
Red Bull II 29th minute Malik Dembele
Red Bull II 64th minute Malik Dembele (Curtis Ofori)
Red Bull II 72nd minute Rafael Mosquera (PK)
Union II 84th minute Edward Davis III (Frank Westfield)
Yellow Cards
Union II 41st minute Giovanny Sequera (foul)
Red Bull II 45+2 minute Bento Estrela (foul)
Red Bull II 51st minute Aidon Stokes (time-wasting)
Union II 72nd minute Holden Trent (foul)
Stats
| U II | Statistic | RB II | U II | Statistic | RB II |
| 15 | Shots | 17 | Offsides | ||
| 5 | Shots on goal | 5 | Goalkeeper Saves | ||
| Blocked shots | Clearances | ||||
| 479 | Total Passes | 320 | |||
| Pass Accuracy % | Fouls | ||||
| 5 | Corners | 5 | Yellow Cards | ||
| Total Crosses | Red Cards |
Whistle & Flags
Ref: Drew Klemp, AR1: Andrew Charron, AR2: Jessica Carnevale, 4th: Gary Gutierrez.
Postscript
Red Bull II started seven teenagers and their starter’s average age was 18.9 years old.
Cavan Sullivan shows promise for a 14 y/o so MC expectedly knew what they were doing, although how much he will still physically grow is an X factor. I wish him all the best, but unless it is with the USMNT, he’s not our future, just someone else’s. He will be in Europe at 16 in a reserve situation for MC at 18 if all goes well for him.
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What matters trophy-wise for our team is training someone good enough to help our team win a trophy at MLS level, yet not good enough and/or is paid enough to stay with us.
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I hope Cavan’s contract value is put toward that end. The team and fans need it now. That’s where the time and dime initially training him is put toward that end. Winning increases team value, and that is Sugarman’s long term value.
Was planning to go to the game…except for some reason I thought it was tonight rather than last night. By the time I figured that out, it was halftime so only saw the second half. Biggest memory was Sullivan missing a wide open goal while it was still only 0-2.
Yeah, not his finest moment. Either way, he’s not our future. The fielded team was younger and it showed in the play and result by a more physically developed NYRB reserve squad.
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I attend some of them if I have spare time because the price is right (0) and to see who might feature with us long term.
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Given our first team slide, that’s important. Who do you believe might make a difference down the road?
The key to whether Cavan Sullivan is important to the first-team’s next three or four years is the terms of the agreement with Manchester City defining whether he has outgrown MLS itself.
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We will never see those details, so we all have to make guesses based on the eye test.
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He is not yet a dominating force in MLS NEXT Pro, say, like Esmir Barjakterevich was last season for New England Revolution II. I read him as competent and effective, more than merely a space filling place holder.
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I hope that by September he is ready for a debut against a weaker MLS Eastern Conference team, Sullivan himself will be hoping for Miami in Miami on September 14th since he has said he would love to play against Messi. A better bet might be away to Orlando on October 2nd, since Orlando is in the tank this season too. He would have just turned 15 four days before.
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For me, CJ Olney is the player who can make a difference for the first team in a few years along the lines of McGlynn or Sullivan now. Highlight of last Saturday night was getting to see him make his debut.
I would not disagree with Andy’s point about CJ Olney, but I would augment it.
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I am not sharp enough to see Cavan Sullivan’s potential to dominate slash outgrow MLS itself, yet. Therefore, I am assuming he will be with Philly until he turns 18 so at least through the 2026 season and maybe 2027.
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I really look forward to seeing Sullivan, Olney and David Vazquez playing together as the front three vertices of the midfield diamond. We should see that trio fairly regularly by mid-August with Union II. That should be fun to watch. To my eyes right now Vazquez is the one most likely to be the most creative, not that the other two aren’t good creators right now.
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BY 2026 if everything goes well that trio could be the three mids in front of Sanders Ngabo.