Photo courtesy Kevin Barrett

A mere 24 hours after the first team’s friendly draw against Eintracht Frankfurt, which saw several Union II regulars feature in some capacity, Union II returned to Subaru Park to face FC Cincinnati 2 with the hopes of starting another unbeaten streak in front of the home fans. They did so thanks to a 2nd-minute Kellan LeBlanc free kick, and held onto the 1-0 lead for the remainder of the match. 

Recent signing Noah Probst made his first Union II gameday roster, but did not debut. 

Former Union Academy players Andrei and Stefan Chirila both started for FC Cincinnati.

In advance

Neil Pierre, Eddy Davis, Sal Olivas, and Isaiah LeFlore all participated in the friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt the evening before. Markus Anderson made the first team bench and was the only player not substituted into the game. Pierre was the only player in the group to participate in the friendly and start against Cincinnati. 

Union II captain Nick Pariano and FC Cincinnati 2 captain Amir Daley were teammates for four years at Duke University. 

First half

Leandro Soria earned a free kick for Philadelphia in a threatening area in the second minute. Kellan LeBlanc’s free kick bounced off the crossbar and into the net past Nathan Crockford, tallying the teenager’s second of the season.

Union II dominated possession in the first quarter of the match, holding Cincinnati to one shot. Their captain, Amir Daley, saw yellow in the 17th minute for a high boot on Isaiah LeFlore that stopped an attack on the left flank. 

LeBlanc had a chance to score a second in the 25th minute, but tried to make the extra pass to set up Jakupovic and could not find his teammate. 

Cincinnati’s Stefan Chirila received a talking to after fouling Oscar Benitez during a Cincy attack. The 17-year-old had previously been physical with Neil Pierre. 

Jordan Griffin entered the match for Neil Pierre in the 36th minute. Pierre, as previously mentioned, played 24 minutes with the first team the night prior and was the only contributing Union II regular to start in this match. LeFlore moved to play left center back for the remainder of the match. Coach Richter confirmed in postgame media availability that the substitution was planned due to the volume of minutes Pierre played in the last eight days.

Frustration continued to build for the visitors, who continued to see very little of the ball through the end of the first half, leading to Noah Adnan receiving a yellow card for a foul on Soria. 

The half ended with Philadelphia up 1-0, but they could have capitalized on more chances. 

Second half

Neither side made changes at the break. 

Rafael Uzcategui and Giovanny Sequera each stopped promising Cincinnati attacks in the opening minutes of the half. The visitors found an attacking spark in the second half, but were still unable to get past the Union defense.

Cincinnati keeper Nathan Crockford had an impressive 1v1 clearance against Leandro Soria in the center of the keeper’s half. Crockford chested the ball down and volleyed it out for a Philadelphia throw. 

Sal Olivas and Eddy Davis entered for Union II in the 57th minute for Jakupovic and Soria. 

Stefan Chirila had a promising 1v1 chance against Rafael Uzcategui, but could not beat the center back on the dribble. 

Uzcategui saw yellow for a retaliatory challenge in the 67th minute. Stefan Chirila’s free kick was saved easily by Pierce Holbrook. 

A Gio Sequera slide tackle at midfield started a chance for Union II that saw Sal Olivas with a shot on target. A foul on the near sideline shortly thereafter gave Nick Pariano a set piece attempt that looked to result in a handball in the box, but head official Izlen Peksenar did not call it. 

Goalscorer Kellan LeBlanc made way for Jamir Johnson in the 82nd minute. Johnson was later held back from the ball by Andrei Chirila, which again was not called as a foul. 

Pierce Holbrook had a strong save in the 86th minute to keep the match level. 

Eddy Davis’s 89th-minute strike hit the post after some combination play with Sal Olivas and Markus Anderson. The ball came all the way back to the Union’s box, where Holbrook reached full extension to deny a low ball at his front post. Aside from the free kick early on, this was Union II’s best chance of the night.

At no point during the second half did Philadelphia look confidently ahead in the match. They desperately needed a second goal to cushion the lead. While the 1-0 was frustrating, the Union got back to winning ways and held a clean sheet.

Cavan Sullivan

The youngster continued his stay with the Manchester City U21 squad this week and travelled with them to face Paris Saint-Germain. Sullivan featured in the 5-3 win for City and was regarded by many of the PSG fans in attendance as a standout on the pitch after assisting two goals.

Next match

Union II will travel to Montclair State University in New Jersey to face New York Red Bulls II on Monday, August 11th. The winner of that match will move to the top of the Eastern Conference.

 Three Points:

• Oscar Benitez is beginning to slot in well beside Nick Pariano at the six, and his chemistry with Gio Sequera allowed for plenty of movement down the right flank.
• Pierce Holbrook was clinical in net during the second half once Cincinnati started putting on some pressure. His four saves helped the team to its 8th clean sheet of the season.
• Rafael Uzcategui received his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning he will be suspended for Union II’s match next week against New York Red Bulls II. 

Lineups

Union II (4-2-2-2, L-R) Head coach Ryan Richter, Bethlehem Steel FC’s original captain. 1st – 4+2; UII – 7+0; A – 0+1.

Pierce Holbrook; Isaiah LeFlore, Rafael Uzcategui, Neil Pierre, Giovanny Sequera, Nick Pariano, Oscar Benitez, Markus Anderson, Kellan LeBlanc (Jamir Johnson– 82’), Leandro Soria (Sal Olivas– 57’), Malik Jakupovic (Eddy Davis– 57’)

Unused subs: Mike Sheridan; Stas Korzienowski, Willyam Ferreira, Jordan Griffin, Noah Probst

FC Cincinnati 2 (5-3-2) Head Coach Tyrone Marshall

Nathan Crockford; Amir Daley, Brian Schaefer (Dilan Hurtado– 72’), Andrei Chrila, Noah Adnan, William Kuisel (Yorkaeff Caceido– 64’), Peter Mangione, Carson Locker (Blake Bayless– 80’), Stefan Chirila, Tega Ikoba (Monsuru Opeyemi– 64’), Andres Davila (Yeiner Valoyes– 63’)

Unused Subs: Slade Hall; Benjamin Manfroy

Scoring Summary:

UII: LeBlanc– 3’

Discipline Summary:

FCC: Daley– 17’ (Caution)

FCC: Adnan– 38’ (Caution)

UII: Uzcategui– 67’ (Caution)

Stats

Whistle and flags: 

Ref: Izlen Peksenar, AR1: Max Smith, AR2: Marcus Barnett, 4th: Nickrod Fateh