Photo @PhilaUnionII

Chicago Fire FC II scored twice after the 80th minute to defeat Philadelphia Union II 2-0 and draw within one point of Philly in the stern conference standings of MLS NEXT Pro with even games to play. Philadelphia’s style of play simply dominated the first third of the match, but Union II no longer seem to have scoring punch, having been shut out for the east two matches in a row.

David Tchetchao scored the match winner in the 81st from a back pass from Holyou beating  Pierce Holbrook to the near post. He was named many of the match, even though the actual player was Chicago’s 16-year-old goalkeeper David Molenda who was credited with six saves – a total that frankly seemed low to this observer.

The bottom line is that Union II’s late summer transition to the new academic year, coupled with the Academy delaying integration of new rising seniors into the squad on a preseason tour in Germany and the Netherlands has noticeably weakened the team. They should still make the playoffs, but whether they will have any home games is now uncertain, and the likelihood of a playoff advance is shrinking.

In advance

Union II visited Chicago Fire II two days after the first team played New York Red Bull at home in the U. S. Open Cup and one day before they played them in north Jersey for MLS’s regular season.  Additionally, the Academy teams were still away on their preseason tour in Germany and Europe. Only most of the usual game day players were expected to be available. Neil Pierre was absent.

Union II lay 2^nd in the eastern conference table on 42 points while Chicago lay fourth on 38.  AS in every year of MLS NEXT Pro’s existence, Philadelphia is trying to make the playoffs while adjusting to the academy academic and athletic transitions to the new year.

First half

While we cannot compile an average age for Chicago’s starting lineup, many more of them were 16 and 17 years old than in past years, and the age showed in the first half an hour. Philadelphia’s press controlled the first 35 minutes. At one point They had outshot the hosts 9-0.

But Chicago head coach Mike Matkovich deserves credit for having taught his side resilience. Keeper Molenda kept them in it, and they began to develop some offensive as Union II began to tire. (One of the effects of the transition mentioned above is that a team that could press an extremely high intensity two months ago now lacks that endurance.)

The visitors still controlled the match, but the offensive onslaught was diminishing.

SEcond half

Neither side subbed at halftime.

Chicago’s back line and double pivot defensive mids shut off more Union II attacks, and the transition’s conditioning decline began to resurface. The system was being played properly, but the ability to find the extra spark to create a score was lost. Coach Richter made all the right substitution moves to try to find new life, and there was no particular fall-off in play from the bench players. But no one managed that extra spark that so often had come from the group playing earlier this season.

Willyam Ferreira had showed real potential until he cramped irretrievably in the 60th minute. Kellen LeBlanc replaced him with no fall-off in play, but with no real improvement either.

Eddy Davis replaced Stas Korzeniowski, but his greater pace did not compensate for the U Penn man’s nose for hold-up play and dangerous runs. And Davis did not evoke the same levels of dangerous service that had shown the big striker a quarter of a step slow.

Chicago’s determined defending meant that Malik Jakupovic had no notice offensive impact. It was not garbage time, and Chicago carefully marked him.

Markus Anderson had probably been Union II’s most consistently creative and dangerous attacker. And while Leandro Soria had at least one excellent shot from distance on a net that seemed undefended, Molenda made an excellent deflection to preserve the clean sheet. It was Chicago’s second in 23 matches.

Only Oscar Benitez of coach Richter’s five field player substitutes did not see action, and creating offensive is not his forte. That meant that Not only did new acquisition Noah Probst have his first start, he played his first full 90 in a Union shirt as well.

Next match

Union II next play on the 5th day at Subaru Park Wednesday, August 20th, hosting Toronto FC II at 7:00 PM. The match is scheduled for Apple TV + MLS Season Pass.

Three points

1. Three of the six Union II defensive players had received yellow cards by the 30th minute, and none earned a second, fortunate since the two right backs on the roster, Starter Sequera and potential sub Pariano were painted with mustard in the 3rd nd 6th minutes.
2. David Tchetchao’s score was his first professional goal.
3. In their last four games Union II has given up seven goals, suggesting that they are probably no longer the best defensive team in the league.

B O X S C O R E         ^{1st.          UII          AA}

Lineups

Union II (4-2-2-2, L-R). Head coach Ryan Richter.  1^st – 4+1; U II – 6+5; AA – 1+0. Starters’ Ave Age = 20.5

Starters: Pierce Holbrook^UII (22.3); Jordan Griffin^AA (16.8), Isaiah LeFlore^1st (22.7), Rafael Uzcategui^UII(20.9), Gio Sequera^UII (19.5); Noah Probst ^UII (21.0), Nick Pariano^1st (22.4); Markus Anderson^1st (21.7) (Leandro Soria^Uii (20.8) 74′), Willyam Ferreira^UII (16.5) (Kellen LeBlanc^Uii (17.4) 62′); Stas Korzeniowski^UII (22.5) (Eddy Davis^1st (19.2) 69′),  Sal Olivas^1st (19.1) (Malik Jakupovic^UII (16.1) 69′).

Unused substitutes: Mike Sheridan^UII (24.0); , , Oscar Benitez^UII (20.7), , .

Chicago II (4-3-3). Head coach Mike Matkovich

Starters: David Molenda; Justin Reynolds, Jean Diouf, Christopher Cupps, Josue Pfrommer (Geni Kanyane, 58′); Vitaliy Hlut, Charles Nagle, Trip Fleming; Dylan Borso (Jhoiner Montie 58′), Dean Boltz (David Tchetchao 71′), Claudio Cassano (Darius Hyte 87′).

Unused substitutes: Juan Zapata, Hugo Berg, l, Emir Herrera, Lukas Peterson.

Goals

Frie II           81st minute           David Tchetchao

Fire II           86th minute         Claudio Cassano

Yellow cards

Union II           3rd minute         Rafael Uzcategui (shirt tug)

Union II           6th minute         Nick Pariano (shirt tug)

Union II          30th minute        Gio Sequera (shirt tug)

Fire II             35th minute         Justin Reynolds (foul)

Union II         71st minute          Markus Anderson (persistent infringement)

Stats

Whistle & Flags

Ref: Amin Hadzic; AR¹: Jacob Little; AR²: Jared Kuehl; 4^th: Eric Burton.