Photo Courtesy Philadelphia Union II 

For the first time this season Philadelphia Union II have lost two in a row.

On a hot Sunday evening at historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, Philadelphia came back twice to tie, only to surrender an obvious penalty kick in the sixth minute of stoppage time to lose 3-2. Crew 2 striker Gavin Rayo scored the winner from the spot. Jamir Berdecio had committed an obvious trip from behind in the box.

In advance

The first team opened its Leagues Cup group stage against Charlotte the night before  in Philadelphia including usual Union II stalwarts Andrew Rick, Frank Westfield, and CJ Olney on its bench.

Sam Adeniran’s arrival meant striker Markus Anderson now needs game minutes from Union II. Left center back Olwethu Makhanya, defensive mid Sanders Ngabo, shuttling mid Nick Pariano, attacking mid Cavan Sullivan, and substitute  left back Jamir Berdecio all travelled with Union II as well. Giovanny Sequera is still recovering from injury.

Columbus’s first team has a bye throughout the group stage of Leagues Cup, so they scheduled a friendly against Aston Villa at Lower.com field the night before Crew 2 tapped off against Union II. They were expected to rotate their squad for the friendly perhaps reducing the reinforcements available to Crew 2. Their bench was short and they used all four field players.

 First half

In the roughly first 25 minutes Philadelphia placed Columbus under pressure.  Columbus goalkeeper Stanislav Lapkes  had to save five shots on target.

Columbus, however, was always alive to the counter attack and Union keeper Mike Sheridan had to be a sweeper keeper a few times. Three times he came beyond his box to snuff danger, and once he made the best save of the half diving across from his left to his right post at full extension to tip a blistering shot wide.

90 degree heat slowed the pace of play noticeably after the first quarter of the match.

The absence of Frank Westfield and CJ Olney from the left channel was obvious. They currently total 17 assists between them. On the day offense originating for either Philadelphia outside back was the exception not the rule. Offense from the defense usually came from the defensive mid and the center backs.

In the 37th Columbus outside back Owen Presthus thrust up his side channel and found Anthony Alouleh for a header inside the six for the lead.

Second half

Union II energy revived after the break, with renewed pace and ground coverage on defense and in the 53rd Sanders Ngabo broke past Columbus’s midfield on the dribble achieveing distinct separation. He found Eddy Davis on the left side of the top of the box and the striker cut inside his mark to deliver a curled placement inside the far post to tie the game. It was his 11th goal of the season, second in the league.

In the 60th minute Union II coach Marlon LeBLanc made three substitutions that exemplify the side’s commitment to player development..  Kellen LeBlanc came on for Kyle Tucker at right mid, Sal Olivas came on for Davis at striker, and Carlos Rojas came on for Ngabo at defensive mid. The effectiveness of Philly’s attack did not noticeably degrade but neither did it  improve.

After the hydration break Crew 2 coach Kelvin Jones brought on massive striker Jayden Da who scored on a counter attack in less than ten minutes from a feed from Brent Adu-Gyamfl. But in the 84th Da received his first yellow card and followed with a second in the 90th.

Being a man down disconcerted Columbus and energized Philadelphia. In the 3rd minute of stoppage time after driving towards the left corner of Columbus’s penalty area, Cavan Sullivan crossed back to the outside of the box on the right side where right back Gavin Wetzel fired a laser past Lapkes to tie the score.

But then the penalty kick ended matters.

Cavan Sullivan

The 14 year-old phenom played the entire match. His shots tended to find Lapkes rather than the corners on the day. That he endured a full 90 in the heat testifies to his determination. His greatest positive contribution came on the assist in stoppage time. Once again he experienced the beating he’s going to get as a middle teenager from those who are bigger, older, and stronger.

It will not be a fairy tale every time he takes the pitch.

 Next match

Union II next play Friday, August 2 at Subaru Park at 3 PM against nemesis FC Cincinnati 2. In two previous meetings this season Cincinnati has beaten Union II  once in Chester and once at Northern Kentucky University. They are now tied with Cincinnati on points, but one behind on the first tiebreaker with one fewer win.

Three points

1. Neil Pierre played a strong game after not having dressed for the match against NYC FC II last time out.
2. Bin addition to Olney, Westfield and Rick, David Vazquez is away with the US U20s and the Concacaf U20s Championship in Mexico.
3. At the end of the game the three Union II midfielders responsible for attacking were a 16.4-years-old, 16.1, and 14.8,  Kellen LeBlanc, Jamir Johnson, and Cavan Sullivan.

BOXSCORE

Lineups

 Union II (4-1-2-1-2, L-R) 1^st – 6, U II – Y, Am – 7.

Starters: Mike Sheridan; Jamir Berdecio, Olwethu Makhanya, Neil Pierre, Gavin Wetzel; Sanders Ngabo (Carlos Rojas 60″); Kyle Tucker (Kellen LeBlanc 60′), Nick Pariano (Jamir Johnson 81′); Cavan Sullivan; Markus Anderson (Leandro Soria 87′), Eddy Davis III (Sal Oliva 60′)s. Starters’ average age = W.20.0

Unused substitutes: Gavin Atkinson; Henry Bernstein, , Randy Meneses, Jordan Griffin.

Crew 2 (3-4-3)

Starters: Stanislav Lapkes, Owen Presthus (Xavier Zengue 61’), Christopher Rogers, Jacob Greene, Tristan Brown, Giorgio De Libera (Adrián González 61’) , Nicolas Rincon, Brent Adu-Gyamfi, Anthony Alaouieh (Jayden Da 79’), Chase Adams (Terron Williams 89’) , Gibran Rayo

Unused substitute: Cole Johnson;

Goals

Crew 2           39th minute           Anthony Alouhleh (Owen Presthus)

Union II        53rd minute.         Eddy Davis III (Sanders Ngabo)

Crew 2          79th minute           Jayden Da (Brent Abu-Gyemfl)

Union II.      90+2 minute.        Gavin Wetzel (Cavan Sullivan)

Crew 2          90+6 minute.         Gavin Rayo (PK)

Yellow Cards

Crew 2           28th minute           Tristan Brown (foul)

Union II        33rd minute           Neil Pierre (foul)

Crew 2.          84th minute           Jayden Da (foul)

Crew 2           90th minute          Jayden Da (second caution, ejection)

Stats

Whistle & Flags

Ref: Joe Surgan, AR¹: Brian Marshall, AR²: Eric Burton, 4^TH: Mohamed Sadr