Photo courtesy of Union II

Background

This match will be the 3rd and final meeting between FC Cincinnati 2 and Philadelphia Union II in the regular season.

Cincy won the previous two matchups against Union II this season with scores of 3-1 and 2-0 respectively. 

Both teams entered the match even on points, but with Cincy in 1st due to having 12 wins compared to the Union’s 11.

Cincy enters this matchup in mixed form. They have won 3 out of the last 5, and most recently routed Chicago Fire 5-0. However, they were on the wrong end of a 6-1 blow out by Crew 2 the previous match week.

In Union II land, head coach Marlon Le Blanc will look to return to winning ways after suffering consecutive defeats for the first team all season. Union II dropped a tight affair 3-2 to Crew and lost the previous week to NYCFC. In both matches, Union II conceded stoppage time winners.

Lineup Notes

Mike Sheridan gets a second consecutive and 5th overall start as Rick continues to back-up Blake with the first team, Gavin Atkinson makes the bench again.

Markus Anderson makes his third consecutive and 6th overall start as he has seemingly moved down the depth chart following the Sam Adeniran signing with the first team.

David Vazquez is unavailable as he is still away with the US U-20s. He and his compatriots will contest the CONCACAF Championship semifinal against Panama tonight.

Match

1st Half

Despite hitting the upright and the crossbar, while taking 11 shots, Union II found themselves trailing 1-0 to Cincy after the first 45 minutes, despite fewer opportunities for the visitors.

On a stiflingly hot Chester afternoon, Cincinnati 2 had the first chance of the match. In the 7th minute, Kenji Mboma Dem flashed a dangerous cross in front of the Union goal but Frankie Westfield managed to clear away.

The next chance of the match came to the Union and it was a big one. In the 17th minute Westfield crossed into Cinci’s area, the ball passed ahead of the sliding Ed Davis, but fell right to Anderson who had made the back post run. He contorted his body to get a foot on it, but put the shot wide.

Next it was Davis taking on the shot for himself in the 20th minute, only to see the ball carom off the upright. On the feed from Cavan Sullivan, the Cincy defense was slow to step and Davis drove towards the 18 yard box. He shifted the ball to his left and ripped a shot past Cinci’s keeper Hunter Morse, but was cruelly denied by the woodwork. 

Unfortunately, Anderson picked up another injury. After seemingly taking a shot to the head, he was unable to continue and Sal Olivas was subbed into the game in the 27th minute. 

In the 28th minute, Sheridan made his first save of the night. Mboma Dem was involved again for Cinci, this time directing a long range effort on target but the former Villanova keeper was easily able to collect it for the first save of the game.

Cincy opened the scoring in the 31st with another long range effort. This time it was Ben Stitz who received the ball on the half-turn outside the 18 from Jésus Castellano. The forward had ample time and was able to pick out Sheridan’s bottom left corner with a ripper of a shot. 

Union II began to throw numbers forward in an effort to equalize before the half. 

Around the 35th minute, Union II produced a good attack. Olivas chased down a long ball and had time to pick out Davis in the box. The striker’s shot was true, but Gaël Gibert was able to make a lunging block, only conceding a corner kick. Sullivan’s delivery from the set piece found Makhanya, but his header was off target. 

In the 43rd minute, Westfield had the best chance of the game. After Cincy failed to clear an inswinging Kyle Tucker free kick, CJ Olney’s lofted cross found the young fullback and he rifled a shot off the bounce, beating Morse, only to be denied by the crossbar. 

Shortly after Stitz nearly doubled the lead for Cinci, but his close range shot on a bouncing delivery was just over the bar.

4th Official Nick Karnovsky signaled for 5 minutes of added time, likely due to Anderson’s injury and the mandatory hydration break necessitated by the heat.

After a free-kick routine by Tucker and Sullivan was cleared away, Olney took a long shot that was easily handled by Morse which was the last action of the opening frame of play.

2nd Half

In a slower second half, Union II struggled to find attacking chances until late in the game. A weather delay in the first minute of the determined 7 of stoppage time put a damper on the late momentum the Union had found. Despite keeping their energy high after the delay, U II were unable to truly challenge Cincy keeper Morse and lost their 3rd consecutive match.

Head Coach Marlon Le Blanc made a change at halftime, putting Nicholas Pariano on and taking Sanders Ngabo off. Cincinnati 2 made no changes.

Jamiro Berdecio displayed his versatility, as he was subbed on for Kyle Tucker in the 57th minute and played as a defensive midfielder, despite usually appearing at full-back. 

In the 60th minute a great ball found Olney in behind, but his outside of the foot cross which was intended for one of the strikers, went right to Morse.

There was then a long period of time marked by a lack of meaningful possession and notable attacks from Union II.

In the 73rd minute Gavin Wetzel had to make a huge block in the box on a shot from close range followed by Neil Pierre making a diving header to clear away a dangerous cross.

Olivas had the best chance of the half for Union II. Onley sent in a hanging ball to Olivas in the box but the forwards header missed well wide.

With time running out, Le Blanc made a double sub in the 80th minute, sending Leandro Soria and Kellen Le Blanc on for Ed Davis and Cavan Sullivan..

Sheridan was called on in a big way in the 88th minute. After Cincy counterattacked, their forward beat Westfield and was able to take an open shot in the box. But, Sheridan stood tall and made the save to keep U II in the game.

Right at the stroke of 90 minutes, Olwethu Makhanya started a dangerous attack with a slide tackle. He played it to Oleny who found Westfield but Morse rushed off his line and got a hand on the cross. 

Just as Union II finally began to put the pressure back onto Cincy the game was stopped due to a weather delay

Kellen Le Blanc had set up Olivas in the box, but the forward took one too many touches and lost possession, then the officials signaled the stoppage of play due to inclement weather. 

After nearly an hour, the game resumed with a dropped ball in the 91st minute. 

During the stoppage, Jamir Johnson was subbed on for Pariano – hopefully due to a tactically change and not injury as the Union draft pick has struggled to stay fit in his first professional season.

Right away, Johnson found Westfield with a great ball right as he entered the box, but Cincy substitute William Kuisel slid to block the cross.

In the 6th minute of second half stoppage time, U II finally put a shot on target from inside the box. But, it was to no avail as Kellen Le Blanc’s volley on a tricky shot could only bounce harmlessly into the outstretched hands of Morse. 

As the clock showed 97:00, Makhanya drove forward with the ball over the midfield line and played Westfield into the attacking third. Westfield won a corner and both teams prepared for the final play of the game.

Unfortunately for Union II, the corner was mis-hit and went right to the first Cincy defender. Morse was able to claim it and Head Referee Eric Tattersall blew for full time.

The loss sees Cincinnati 2 hold on to first place in the East and extend their lead to three points over Union II.

Philadelphia Union II’s next match is against Chicago Fire II on August 10th, at 4 p.m. back at Subaru Park. That game will be available to watch on the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+

3 Points

• Get the Brooms Out: This results completes the sweep for Cincy as they have now won all three regular season games against Union II. Both of these teams are good and it wouldn’t be surprising to see this matchup in the playoffs. Le Blanc and his coaching staff will have to figure out what tweaks to make in the event of a loser-goes-home game. 

• Inefficient Shooting: Despite outshooting their opponents 16-7, Union II could not find the back of the net. Just 3 of those 16 were on frame. While somewhat unlucky, hitting the woodwork twice and seeing 6 shots blocked overall, they needed to force more saves from the opposition goalie. 3 shots on target is not enough.

• Watch Your Back: There are only 8 games left in the regular season. The top 8 teams qualify for the playoffs in the East and 9 points separate 8th placed Miami from 2nd placed Union II. This is crunch time. Le Blanc and his team will have to get back to winning ways soon as they have now lost 3 in a row.

Box Score

Courtesy of Union Communications

OFFICIALS

REF: Eric Tattersall

AR1: Alexandru Focea

AR2: Douglas Clayton

4TH: Nick Karnovsky

Weather: 92 degrees and sunny.

GOALS/ASSISTS

CIN – Benjamin Stitz (Castellano) 31’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

CIN – Gael Gibert (caution) 45+5’

CIN – Jesús Castellano (caution) 55’

PHI – Francis Westfield (caution) 90+9’

LINEUP

Philadelphia Union II: Mike Sheridan; Francis Westfield, Olwethu Makhanya, Neil Pierre, Gavin Wetzel, Sanders Ngabo [Nicholas Pariano 45’(Jamir Johnson 90+1’)], Christopher Olney, Kyle Tucker (Jamir Berdecio 58’), Cavan Sullivan (Kellan LeBlanc 80’), Edward Davis (Leandro Soria 80’) , Markus Anderson (Sal Olivas 27’)

Substitutes not used: Randy Meneses, Carlos Rojas, Gavin Atkinson

FC Cincinnati 2: Hunter Morse; Juan Machado, Brian Schaefer, Gael Gibert (Lincoln Matuskiewicz 68’), Connor Stout (William Kuisel 59’), Yair Ramos, Peter Mangione (Justin Hylton 87’), Jesús Castellano (Nicholas Samways 70’), Kenji Mboma Dem, Benjamin Stitz (Yeiner Valoyes 70’ ), Stefan Chirila

Substitutes not used: Alejandro Guido, Luke Broz