Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union II Communications

After a 55 minute lightning delay and during on-going rain, Sunday afternoon August 18 in York Ontario, Canada, Toronto FC II defeated Philadelphia Union II 4-2.

25-year-old Honduran Jesus Batiz opened the scoring in the 13th minute, beating Union II goal keeper Mike Sheridan to the near post with more pace on the ball than Sheridan seemed to expect.  Brazilian loanee Ythallo headed home a corner kick nine minutes later for a 2-0 halftime lead.

Union II attacking midfielder Kellan LeBlanc scored a brace eight minutes apart in the first 17 minutes of the second half, but Union II center back Olwethu Makhanya conceded a penalty less than two minutes later which Julian Altobelli scored. The clincher came in the 73rd when defensive clearance confusion gave ??? Ayari an easy open net.

While Union II have now lost four of their last five, the lineup has changed drastically from the side that was leading the eastern conference at the beginning of July. The old group of academy players have been replaced by rising U17s who are just beginning to develop beyond the demands of MLS NEXT.

To illustrate Neil Pierre was not the youngest starter as he has been most of the year. attacking mid Jamir Johnson was at age 16.1. In the absence of both Kyle Tucker (family bereavement) and Frank Westfield (first team reserve duty the night before), Pierre sported the Captain’s armband.

In advance

In the Eastern Conference table Union II had lain second on 41 points from 21 of 28 games. The baby Reds had lain 12^th on 22 points from 19 of 28, four places below playoff qualification.

Toronto’s first team had been eliminated from Leagues Cup play and resumes MLS regular season play Saturday, August 24^th.  Their lineup seemed young with only a few name that were familiar.

Philly defeated Mazatlan in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals on penalty kicks the night before in Chester so double duty was not possible. The first team will play two more games in Leagues cup, Wednesday, August 21st and Sunday August 25th. On this day seven of 18 Union II spots were occupied by academy amateurs, and that proportion will likely continue next week..

Sanders Ngabo has been permanently transferred from the Philadelphia Union to Danish second division side AC Horsens and is no longer available to Union II.

First half

The start of the match was delayed by lightning in the area, and York Lions’ stadium had to display that it drained its artificial turf well.

Toronto played with physicality and intensity. Only later in the half after they were down by two did Philly begin to have sustained periods of possession in the hosts’ defensive half. Philadelphia does not play for possession, but they had precious little of it through the midfield with LeBLanc and Johnson as the forward pair of midfielders in front of Nick Pariano and Carlos Rojas as the defensive mid double pivot. Pariano in particular had three solid chances in the half, but all were struck over the top of the frame.

Second half

As has happened many times this season, something head coach Marlon LeBLanc did or said at halftime produced a qualitative change in Union II’s play coming out for the second period.

Sal Olivas replaced Leandro Soria at striker at halftime.

In the 49th minute Jamir Berdecio found LeBlanc the younger running onto open space towards the top of the box for a one time volley to serve Toronto with notice that  Philly’s boys had intent.

Seven or eight minutes later Olivas pressed Abe Rodriguez, the young Reds’ goalkeeper, on a pass cleared back to him and after Markus Anderson picked up Olivas’s clean, he found LeBlanc for a brace and the temporary tie.

Then Makhanya fouled in the box and Altobelli beat Sheridan cleanly to re-take the lead.

Union II brought on three subs in the 69th minute. One of the three were making his professional debut, midfielder Jordan Griffin.  Four minutes later the fifth sub for the visitors was Zach Mastrodimos at the right shuttling midfielder. LeBLanc had changed all four of his midfielders.

The boys in Blue never said “die,” but Toronto held on, including getting Nathaniel Edwards sent off stupidly in stoppage time for a second yellow, for time wasting after an earlier foul.

The Philadelphians were true to their developmental mission, starting their next group of youngsters on their paths towards the next level rather than playing for the win and improved playoff position.

Next match

Union II will host Columbus Crew 2 at 6:00 PM Monday, August 26^th at Subaru Park in Chester, the day after the first team will play either the Leagues Cup championship or third place game. At this writing before all results are final, second place in the east will be visiting third. As Leagues Cup semifinalists, both first teams’ will have played play the day before on Sunday in either the championship or the third-place match, so neither will get much extra help from big brother.

Three points

1. Eddy Davis III is back from his trial with Lyngby in Denmark and played the last 20 or so against Toronto as a midfielder.
2. Markus Anderson has recovered from concussion and concussion protocol, and played the full 90. He was used to a more physical style of play than the Canadian referee expected.
3. Mike Sheridan probably did not see this quality of play at division III St. Joseph’s in Maine. He was too far off the near post on Batiz’s goal to have a chance to stop it given the pace with which it was struck. But his instincts as a sweeper-keeper are sound and fearless. We suspect he will play for coach LeBLanc next season.

BOXSCORE

Lineups

Union II (4-1-2-1-2, L-R) 1^st – 4, U II – 7, Am – 7. Starters’ Average Age = 19.6

Starters: Mike Sheridan; Jamir Berdecio, Olwethu Makhanya, Neil Pierre (C), Gavin Wetzel; Carlos Rojas (Jordan Griffin 69′); Nick Pariano (Zach Mastrodimos 77′), Kellan LeBlanc (Diego Rocio 69′); Jamir Johnson (Eddy  Davis III 69′); Markus Anderson, Leandro Soria (Sal Olivas HT).

Unused substitutes: Gavin Atkinson; Randy Meneses.

Toronto II (3-4-3)

Starters: Abe Rodriguez; Richard Chukwu (Andrei Dumitru HT), Ythallo Rodrigues de Olivera, Adam Pearlman; Jesus Batiz, Lucas Olguin, Charlie Staniland, Theo Rigopoulos (Nathaniel Edwards 61′); Julian Altobelli (Hassan Ayari 74′), Charlie Sharp, Mark Fisher.

Unused substitutes: Shafique Wilson; Kundal Mawoko, Matthew Catavolo, Tyler Londono, Joses Chukwu, Elijah Roche, Tyler Zapata.

Goals

TFC II          13th minute           Jesus Batiz (Richard Chukwu)

TFC II          22nd minute.         Ythallo  (Julian Altobelli)

U II              49the minute.         Kellan LeBlanc (Sal Olivas)

U II              57th minute            Kellan LeBlanc (Markus Anderson)

TFC II          60th minute          Julian Altobelli (PK)

TFC II          76th minute.         Hassan Ayari (Charlie Sharp)

Yellow Cards

TFC II            6th minute          Unidentified (foul)

TFC II          33rd minute        Theo Rigopoulos (foul)

TFC II          38th minute          Charlie Sharp (foul)

TFC II          50th minute          Mark Fisher (foul)

U II              63rd minute          Mike Sheridan (delay)

TFC II          65th minute          Adam Pearlman (foul)

TFC II          73rd minute          Nathaniel Edwards (foul)

U II              82nd minute          Markus Anderson (foul)

Red Card

TFC II          90+6 minute        Nathaniel Edwards (delay, 2nd yellow)

Stats

Whistle & Flags

Ref: Mo Mohseni, AR1 Peter Pendli, AR2 Gabriel Grenier, 4th Yusri Rudolf