Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union II Communications via X (formerly Twitter)

Philadelphia Union II ended its five game losing streak against FC Cincinnati 2 Tuesday evening in northern Kentucky, winning 4-1. Eddy Davis opened the scoring in the 13th minute on Jordan Griffin’s first professional assist.

Markus Anderson scored the winner in the 25th. He then contributed assists in the 85th and 90+8th to Gio Sequera and Malik Jakupovic – ultimately converting a close score into a decisive win.

In advance

Goalkeeper Pierce Holbrook from the Naval Academy has been signed to Union II, reflecting the imminence of YSC Academy graduation and the departure of some other amateur goalkeepers.

Five frequent first-team-contracted Union II participants were announced to be away on international duty with the US U19s and U17s during the current FIFA international break. They were Cavan Sullivan, David Vazquez, Andrew Rick, Sal Olivas, and CJ Olney.

Jamir Johnson of the Academy was also away with the US U17s. Neil Pierre remains in rehabilitation and recovery from his knee injury, having progressed to running towards randomly served balls and kicking them back to his trainer.

Match management

Tyrone Marshall’s Cincinnati farm team has “graduated” most of the last few seasons’ top players to their first team or elsewhere. The Cincy reserves scored for the first time in three matches, but Philadelphia mostly controlled play, particularly in terms of sustained possession in the offensive half and total shots.

Philly head coach Ryan Richter deserves full marks for anticipating his short bench and his dearth of midfielders during this international break.

Shifting Anderson to a 10 role was his most prominent move, but preparing Henry Bernstein to play 90 minutes at defensive midfield is a close second. Close behind is combining Kellan LeBlanc and Gio Sequera to provide a high pressing attacking midfielder opposite Anderson. The fourth move is to use Oscar Benitez at center back to shift Gavin Wetzel to the outside and relieve Isiah LeFlore who is still recovering from some type of knock that restricts his minutes.

We were not surprised that Union II started out on the front foot. But we suspected that Cincinnati’s deeper bench might make the last 20 minutes of the match into desperation defending. Richter’s boys set that fear to rest most emphatically. Next man up was not just a slogan. They worked hard to prepare themselves to handle it and did so.

Cavan Sullivan

Sullivan is away with the US U17s in Marbella, Spain on the Costa del Sol training for three friendlies Thursday, Saturday and Tuesday in preparation for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar this coming November.

Next match(es?)

Jose Nunez reports that on Thursday, June 5^th, two days after the Union II – Cincy 2 match and two days before the first team’s ticketed friendly against Atlas, Auckland City FC will scrimmage “the Union” at Subaru Park as part of its preparation for the FIFA Club World Cup. How the Union intends to populate that scrimmage remains unclear. Logic suggests the second 45 minutes might use Union II players since the first team is notably short-handed and has a “tickets sold” game two days later.

Union II’s next regular season MLSNEXT Pro match is Sunday the 15^th of June hosting Crown Legacy (Charlotte’s farm team) at 7:00 PM at Subaru Park.

Three points

1. Striker Malik Jakupovic made his official debut, earned his first yellow card (for trying to be helpful), and scored his side’s fourth and final goal.
2. Left back Jordan Griffin earned his first assist and his first full 90 minute professional game.
3. Not only did Markus Anderson start at a new position (attacking mid), he scored his first goal of the season, collected two assists, and played the full 90.

B O X S C O R E

Lineups

Union II (4-2-2-2, L-R). Head coach Ryan Richter.  1^st – 4+0; U II – 4+4; AA – 3+1. Only 16 dressed.

Starters: Mike Sheridan^UII; Jordan Griffin^AA, Rafael Uzcategui^UII,  Gavin Wetzel^AA; Isaiah LeFlore^1st (Oscar Benitez^UII 71′), Henry Bernstein^AA, Nick Pariano^1st; Markus Anderson^1st,  Kellen LeBlanc^Uii (Gio Sequera^UII, 66′); Leo Soria^UII(Malik Jakupovic^UII 72′) Eddy Davis^1st.

Starters’ Ave Age = 20.1

Unused substitutes: JoJo Elliott^AA; Stas Korzeniowski^UII

Cincy 2 (5-4-1) Head coach Tyrone Marshall

Starters: Paul Walters; Yorkaeff Caicedo (William Kuisel HT), Andrei Chirila, Brian Schaefer, Noah Adnan, Dilan Hurtado (Yamir Uculmana 68′); Ben Augee,  Stiven. Jimenez (Jaer Cardenas 90‘), Carson Locker, Peter Mangione (Andres Davila Mosquera 62′); Jaylen Lester (Xhosa Manyana  HT).

Unused substitutes: Nathan Crockford; Connor Stout, Benjamin Manfroy,  Lincoln Matuskiewicz.

Goals

Union II          13th minute           Eddy Davis (Jordan Griffin)

Union II          25th minute          Markus Anderson

Cincy 2            51st minute          Carson Locker (Xhosa Manyana)

Union II          85th minute          Gio Sequera ((Markus Anderson)

Union II         90+8 minute.         Malik Jakupovic (Markus Anderson, Gio Sequera)

Yellow cards

Cincy  2          22nd minute           Andrei Chirila (foul)

Cincy 2           54th minute.           Noah Adnan (foul)

Cincy 2           81st minute            William Kuisel (foul)

Union II          90+5 minute.         Malik Jakupovic (delay)

Stats

Whistle & Flags

Ref: Tim Wagner, AR¹: Christopher Slane, AR²: Marcus Barnett, 4^th: Eric Burton.

Postscript: Marlon LeBlanc

Former Union II head coach Marlon LeBlanc continues as head coach of the US men’s youth team U18s.

He is currently leading that side in the eight-team UEFA Friendship Cup that started May 30 and finishes June 11 in Nyon, Switzerland. They played France Sunday June 1^st, giving up two stoppage time goals to send the match to PKs which the Americans won 5-4. They will play Argentina Wednesday, June 4^th, Australia Saturday, June 7^th, and a placement game Tuesday, June 10^th.

All matches are said to be streamed live on UEFA.tv or at UEFA’s official YouTube channel.