Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union II Communications in 2024

Philadelphia Union II played to their third consecutive draw in three games in Huntsville, Alabama against Huntsville City FC Friday night, ending regulation play tied 2-2 for a point each in the standings.  The home team won the shootout 4-3 for the shootout’s extra point.

The most influential player on the field, Huntsville left flank midfielder Christian Koffi, scored in the seventh minute. Philadelphia striker Sal Olivas equalized in the first minute of first half stoppage time. Philly’s Cavan Sullivan tapped home the go-ahead in the 59th. And Damien Barker John headed home the re-equalizer in the 67th.

Huntsville goalkeeper Erik Lauta made two saves in the shoot out.

As before this season, Philadelphia dominated play from the roughly 20th minute to the 65th or so. They then lost their ground coverage edge over their opponent, not a surprise when a younger midfield plays against an older one. But the whole point of Philadelphia’s underlying strategy is that by the end of the season the young side will have grown to match the older ones in physical stamina and mental toughness.

In Advance

Philadelphia Union II tapped off 23 ½ hours before the Union taps off against Miami and, perhaps, Messi in Ft. Lauderdale Saturday night, so no last-minute reinforcements to the Union II roster were possible (unless the organization paid for Saturday morning plane tickets from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale). Huntsville was in a similar circumstance. Nashville played FC Cincinnati 24 ½ hours after its second team’s tap-off. (Huntsville is Nashville’s farm team.)

The player developement philosophies of the two organizations are different.

We doubt that new Nashville coach, former Union assistant B. J. Callaghan, has tweaked their philosophical approach, since General Manager Mike Jacobs remains in place. A quick study of the easily discovered Huntsville roster ages — not all of them unfortunately — suggests they do not have Union II’s developmental emphasis on teenagers.

Huntsville players are usually in their early to mid-20s. For their first two games, they had one actual teenager listed as far as we were able to discover. Nashville itself lists only three homegrown players, two of whom started against Union II. They started their third consecutive different defensive combination on the night.

Seven of 10 Union II’s own rostered players are 20 years old or younger, four being actual teenagers. And of course, all the Academy players who participate as amateurs are teenagers. The Union itself lists 12 total homegrowns, nine of whom started or dressed against Huntsville. The other three went to Ft. Lauderdale with the first team for Saturday night. Union II had less lineup variation than their opponents it seems to PSP, but we are also much more familiar with Philly than the Tennesseans.

Nashville had only played twice prior to Philadelphia’s visit, both on the road at Chicago (W 4-1) and Chattanooga (L 1-0). The same attacking four had started both matches. Additionally, the same goalkeeper, the same left defensive mid, and the same right center back also had played in both. An outside back also played in both, but switched channels. (Center back Zach Barrett hales from Phoenixville, PA.)

The Union II match was Huntsville City’s home opener.

First half

Unsurprisingly for a home opener, Huntsville came out on the front foot. Midfielder Koffi, an import from Chicago Fire FC II, collected the ball in the right channel of the midfield, defeated two or three Union II defenders on the dribble and found Adam Barker John on the right flank. Barker John fed Koffi in the center of the penalty box on the six and Huntsville took the lead in the seventh minute on a well placed firm strike that gave Union II goalkeeper Oliver Semmle no meaningful chance.

By the 20th minute, Union II had replaced Huntsville on the front foot. For the half they had 10 shots with four on target, while the hosts had only four and one.

In the very center of the midfield they were usually outnumbered in their empty bucket formation and often stripped of the ball.  But they were dominant in the left channel whether the mid was Cavan Sullivan or CJ Olney. Isaiah LeFlore does well offensively from left back. Would that he had been as solid defensively against Koffi.

Stas Korzeniowski checks back to the ball to provide outlets for his defenders excellently. He had a few shots on target but none with any power. He was one of the keys to the Union taking over the middle of the game. His progress since preseason is clear. For this level he is a good hold-up play striker, so to say.

As the statistics below indicate Union II displayed better offensive coordination their third time out, and scored their first goals of the season from the run of play.

Second half

Neither coach made any discernible changes at halftime.

In the 52nd minute captain Nick Pariano, most likely deputizing  for the suspended Gavin Wetzel by playing at right back, had to come off with an injury. Pariano was the only Union II player  able to slow Huntsville’s Koffi. He was replaced by Oscar Benitez, but from that point forward the little Frenchman raise merry Ned among the Union II defense.

And as required by the governing philosophy, coach Richter began to substitute. As should surprise no one the starters are better coordinated than the subs, and for the last 20 minutes Huntsville returned to the front foot.

Anderson was unfortunate to be saved on the team’s last spot kick in the shootout, so the extra point went to the hosts. As of this writing Union II lie tenth in the Eastern Conference on three points, lowest among the teams that have played three matches.

Cavan Sullivan

Philadelphia’s youngest starter had a good game.  He missed adding a second goal after his tap in with a blast in the 55th from the left channel that glanced off the far post. But he is only 15 and a half. He is not yet ready to crank out consecutive 90 minute matches safely. His leaving the field hurts offensive production.

Next match

Union II next play in 13 days , hosting Atlanta United 2 at Subaru Park on Thursday, April 10^th at 7:00 PM.

Three points

1. Recently signed Union II left center back Rafael Uzcategui started and played the full 90, making his Union II debut.
2. Center back Neil Pierre was probably the Union’s best player across the entire 90 minutes.
3. Unsung for Union II is defensive mid Zach Mastrodimos who primary job on offensive was to cover for David Vazquez every time Vazquez thrust forward into the attack, which was frequently.
4. We think we maybe discovering a rotation among Union II strikers Eddy Davis (who did not dress), Sal Olivas, and Stas Korzeniowski. Utility man Leandro Soria is an effective substitute there and also at attacking midfielder. Developmentally, rotating which strikers play the full 90 and which sit down after 70 makes a good deal of sense. It also works well in terms of man management.

B O X S C O R E

Lineups

 Philadelphia — (4-2-2-2, L-R); Roster Sources: 1^st. 9, U II – 8, A – 2.

Starters: Oliver Semmle; Isaiah LeFlore, Rafael Uzcategui, Neil Pierre, Nick Pariano (c) (Oscar Benitez 54′); David Vazquez, Zach Mastrodimos; CJ Olney (Kellan LeBlanc 87′), Cavan Sullivan (Leandro Soria 64′); Sal Olivas, Stas Korzeniowski (Markus Anderson 64′). Starters Average Age = 20.1

Unused substitutes: Mike Sheridan; Ramzi Qawasmy, Jamir Johnson, Gio Sequera.

Huntsville — (4-2-3-1, L-R)

Starters: Erik Lauta; Tyshawn Rose (Kevin Carmichael 62′), Christopher Applewhite, Wyatt Meyer, Blake Bowen; Pep Casas, Moises Veliz (Isaiah Jones 79′); Christian Koffi, Gio Miglietti (Alan Carleton 62′), Damien Barker John (Malik Henry-Scott 85′); Adam Sipic (Gunnar Studenhofft 62′).

Unused substitutes: Ammar Delic; Zach Barrett, Real Gill, Gabriel Alonso.

Goals

Huntsville        7th minute          Christian Koffi (Damien Barker John)

Union II           45+1 minute       Sal Olivas (Isaiah LeFlore)

Union II            59th minute       Cavan Sullivan (CJ Olney, Stas Korzeniowski)

Huntsville         67th minute       Damien Barker John (Alan Carleton)

Yellow Cards

Union II          29th minute        Rafael Uzcategui (foul)

Union II          52nd minute       Sal Olivas (persistent infringement)

Huntsville       63rd minute       Gunnar Studenhofft (dissent)

Huntsville       84th minute        Christian Koffi (delay)

Union II          90+3 minute       Markus Anderson (tactical foul)

Stats

Whistle & Flags

REF: Alex Beehler, AR¹: Joshua Belk, AR²: Jonathan Smith, 4^TH: Dorian Del Toro.

Shootout