Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union II Communications

Sunday afternoon at Subaru Park Philadelphia Union II gave up a penalty kick to Atlanta United II at the end of the first half, tied the score in the 77th minute, and won the game in the last minute of stoppage time to move ahead of FC Cincinnati 2 into first place, pending Cincinnati’s match that night on Long Island against New York City FC II. (See “Playoff picture” below.)

Atlanta midfielder Nick Firmino drew a foul inside the box from left center back Olwethu Makhanya and converted the penalty himself. Then Cavan Sullivan tied the match in the 77th on assists from Neil Pierre and Eddy Davis III. And CJ Olney won it in the 90+5th (see photo).

In advance

Atlanta 2 had already been eliminated from the playoffs. Union II had qualified for them and had secured a home game. The remaining Union II regular season issue was whether they would finish third, second, or first.

The match occurred the afternoon after the two first-teams had drawn the night before on the same pitch, so extra reinforcements were logistically possible for each. However, schedule congestion before the FIFA October International Window probably restricted both from sending down anyone who would be needed to cover squad rotations or injuries.

In addition to defensive midfielder Nick Pariano, who has been on season-long loan to Union II, center back Makhanaya, reserve defensive mid/right back Jamir Berdecio,, and two thirds of the interchanging teenage midfield trio, Olney and Sullivan, all were made available. Also Andrew Rick joined as goalkeeper.

It was the last match of Atlanta 2’s season. They probably took the opportunity to observe younger players who had received fewer game minutes, although our knowledge of their roster was incomplete and our conclusion should be independently checked.

First half

For the first  15 minutes, Philadelphia’s high pressure gave Atlanta fits. The southerners  counter-thrusted out of their half only three times in the first nine minutes with nothing to trouble goalkeeper Rick.

Slowly Union II pressure slowed, and Atlanta’s younger player began to adapt. But the conditioning of those young reserves was clearly flagging.

By the 37th minute Atlanta was walking slowly at every opportunity, while from Philadelphia the pressure was no longer as continuous or intense.

Then in the 41st Atlanta’s best player, midfielder Nick Firmino, collected the ball outside Philadelphia’s penalty area and the defenders could not clear it after multiple attempts. After the melee, left center back  Makhanya fouled Firmino inside the box and a penalty was given.

Firmino dispatched the shot sending Rick to his left while going behind him to the right of center, and Union II were behind 1-0 to the chagrin of Union II’s largest crowd of the season (estimated at over a thousand).

Second half

Neither Union II head coach Marlon LeBlanc nor Atlanta head Steve Cooke made any substitutions at halftime.

Philadelphia exerted a burst of pressure for the first five minutes trying force the issue, but the southerners defended successfully and began to spread the field when in possession thus forcing Union II to tire themselves chasing. For the next 25 minutes Atlanta slowed play, maintained possession when possible, and defended their 1-0 lead against all Philadelphia attacks in a very professional manner.

Coach LeBlanc had brought on striker Jose Riasco  in the 63rd as a like-for-like exchange with Sal Olivas up top. Coach Cooke had countered with Karim Tmimi, Alan Carleton, and Matias Gallardo in the 68th, replacing both strikers and a midfielder, and probably shifting to their more familiar 4-3-3.

In the 76th coach LeBlanc brought on midfielder Kyle Tucker and right back Gavin Wetzel for defensive mid Nick Pariano and striker Eddy Davis, moving Berdecio to the single six for Pariano and Olney and/or Sullivan up top next to Riasco, more or less.

And a minute later Sullivan tied it.

The play originated with right center back Neil Pierre advancing after an interception deep into Atlanta territory on the dribble, where he passed to Davis, who found Sullivan for the tying goal.

In the 84th minute needing fresh legs and competent penalty takers, coach LeBlanc called on midfielder Kellen LeBlanc to replace midfielder Giovanny Sequera who had begun to cramp. Striker Leandro Soria joined him and pushed the exhausted Olney forward into a striker’s roles where he could take breathers more easily. Sullivan came off.

And in the last minute of stoppage Olney scored the winner on a sequence that began with a cross from Westfield, but whose intermediate steps remain undetermined at publication.

About a minute and a half later, the referee whistled for full time and a second straight memorable Union II comeback was complete.

Cavan Sullivan

The day after his 15th birthday the young attacking midfielder gave it everything he could muster for almost the full 90 minutes. The most attractive continuous feature of his play was that when he stopped resting he did not lope towards the specific responsibility, he sprinted. He did that both at the beginning of his shift and at the end. With that mentality he will play for Jim Curtin.

Playoff picture

The win pushed Union II one point ahead of FC Cincinnati 2 pending their match later that night on Long Island against NYC FC II. At publication, New York had won 3-1, putting Philly one ahead of New York on points and equal to them in wins in regulation. They are nine ahead on goal difference.

“Decision Day” match

The final match of the regular season, aka “Decision Day,” will find Philadelphia Union II visiting Chicago Fire II at Seat Geek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois next Sunday, October 6. That day all Eastern Conference matches will tap off at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (12:00 PM Central). Given the tightness of some segments of the standings, the simultaneous start is essential to maintain competitive equity.

Three points + two

1. Makhanya did himself no favors by conceding the penalty. He is trying to persuade the first team coach he is trustworthy, but he made another game-altering mistake. He played quite well otherwise.
2. Gavin Wetzel has made himself more reliable defensively at right back that Jamir Berdecio. Berdecio’s pace, athleticism, and courage are first-team quality. But he makes mistakes and in a defender that is a fatal liability if Jim Curtin is your prospective coach.
3. Jose Riasco still lopes towards his defensive responsibilities rather than sprints. That mindset must change if he is ever to play for a team committed to pressing.
4. Full marks to Gio Sequera who nearly made it a full 90 minute shift instead of his normal role as a substitute.
5. Having had a bad day completing long passes to his strikers, Neil Pierre’s decision late in the game to advance the ball himself on the dribble turned out most fortunately.
6. We snapped a photo of the structural steel of the WSFS Sportsplex’s fieldhouse before the match. If they get the structure fully enclosed before winter, they can keep working during the bad weather and perhaps have it ready for preseason next year.

BOXSCORE

Lineups

Union II (4-1-2-1-2, L-R): 1^st – 6; U II – 10; Acad – 4.

Starters: Andrew Rick; Frank Westfield, Olwethu Makhanya, Neil Pierre, Jamir Berdecio; Nick Pariano (Gavin Wetzel 76′); CJ Olney, Giovanny Sequera (Leandro Soria 84′); Cavan Sullivan (Kellan LeBlanc 84′); Sal Olivas (Jose Riasco 63′), Eddy Davis III (Kyle Tucker 76′).

Starters’ Average Age = 19.0

Unused substitutes: Mike Sheridan; Carlos Rojas, Randy Meneses,   Jamir Johnson.

Atlanta 2: (4-4-2, L-R)

Starters:Jayden Hibbert; Dominik Chong Qui, Kaiden Moore, Efrain Morales, Ramzi Qawasmy; Adyn Torres, Nick Firmino, Javier Armas, Cooper Sanchez (Alan Carleton 68′); Ashton Gordon (Karim Tmimi 68′), Rodrigo Neri (Matias Gallardo 68′).

Unused substitutes: John Berner; Ethan Dudley, Jacob Williams, Noble Okello.

Goals

Atlanta 2            42nd minute       Nick Firmino (PK)

Union II             77th minute        Cavan Sullivan (Eddy Davis, Neil Pierre,)

Union II             90+5th minute   CJ Olney (unassisted)

Yellow Cards

Union II            73rd minute            Jose Riasco (foul)

Atlanta 2           90+2nd minute     Jayden Hibbert (dissent)

Stats

Whistle & Flags

Ref: Marie Durr, AR¹: Justen Lopez, AR²: Joseph Knoff, 4^TH: Nickrod Fateh.