Photo Philadelphia Union II

In consequence of two first half goals generated initially from Union II’s high press in the 20th and 38th minutes, Philadelphia Union II defeated FC Cincinnati 2 2-1 Sunday night at Northern Kentucky University directly across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. The win clinched Union II’s fourth playoff appearance in the four years MLS NEXT Pro has existed.

Cavan Sullivan found Neil Pierre’s head for the first, and Eddy Davis’s left foot for the match winner earning him designation as Man of the Match.

Tega Ikona collected a rebound off the far post in the 54th and slammed it home to reduce the hosts’ deficit to one. The fight back reflects that Cincinnati 2 has been one of the better teams in the conference since mid-summer.

In advance

Before tap-off Philadelphia Union II lay in third place in the eastern conference table on 43 points having already played 23 of 28 games. FC Cincinnati 2 lay in 13th place on 29 points having already played 22 of 28.

Both clubs’ respective first teams played each other Saturday night the last day before FIFA’s 2025 September international break began.  Four sometime Union II 2025 players had been called up to the US U-17s or the US U-17s Identity Camp: midfielders Jamir Johnson, Kellan LeBlanc, and Cavan Sullivan, and striker Malik Jakupovic. All were dressed at Northern Kentucky University.

Additionally, left back Isaiah LeFlore, who is rostered to the first team but had been playing with Union II, had been loaned to Detroit City of USL Championship.  We speculate the loan clears roster space to sign one or more academy amateurs to first-team homegrown contracts. Left back Jordan Griffin and/or striker midfielder Jamir Johnson are the obvious candidates.

New first-team goalkeeper George Marks backed up Andrew Rick in goal Saturday night thus allowing emergency backup goalkeeper Nathan Harriel to play as a defender. Marks remained in Greater Cincinnati to start in goal for Union II.

First half

Philadelphia received Cincinnati’s opening attempts to begin on the front foot, and converted them into their own dominance for the first quarter of the match. As mentioned, Sullivan found Pierre’s head for the opener in the 20th minute.

Cincy began to makes some thrusts into their offensive third, but Union II’s press continued to create opportunities. In the 38th Kellan LeBlanc found Cavan Sullivan breaking into a lot of green space behind Cincinnati’s back line. And from the outside the right-hand six yard box Sullivan took an extra touch to create perfect timing and found Davis running onto his feed for the half’s second goal.

In the last five or so minutes of the half, the hosts generated some offense, giving Union II starting goalkeeper George Marks his first reasons to make saves. Four of the hosts’ five shots were on goal so Marks hd four saves in the first half.

Second half

Cincinnati head coach Tyrone Marshall brought on Ilkona at halftime and the big man’s size, pace, and aggression lifted Cincinnati back into the match.

As deserving of credit is the hosts’ defense, which did a better job of frustrating Union II in the second frame. Some of Marshall’s substitutions replaced teenagers with young adults. Their athleticism and stamina pushed Philadelphia’s starters harder.

By the last ten minutes of the match, the visitors were half a step slow and fouling, as their four yellow cards in the last quarter of an hour suggest.

The winners’ captain Nick Pariano played the entire match at right back, and Oscar Benitez played the same full 90 at defensive mid, doing so without adding to his collection of yellow cards. Neil Pierre recovered from his poor performance against New England, and his central defense partner, Rafael Uzcategui continued his excellent form.

New goalkeeper signing George Marks saved all the balls he should have. He had no chance at Ikona’s rebound strike. His presence makes it much more likely that the organization will be able to be patient while Andre Blake heals his hamstring.

Cincinnati generated chances in the second half, but the theme of their season has been an inability to score goals, and the theme continued. They are a much better side than their record indicates. That is no surprise given the quality of their coach.

Cavan Sullivan

The younger Sullivan started in Northern Kentucky, having gotten no minutes the night before at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati proper. He achieved the most basic primary goal of his continuing development, logging nearly the full 90 minutes as he continues to build his engine. Each assist was perfectly seen and perfectly placed.

There does remain a drop-off in his play after about 60 to 75 minutes.

We suspect Milan Illoski’s addition to the first team may restrict Sullivan’s first team opportunities for the rest of the season. If so, Union II will benefit as Sullivan will get game minutes by whatever means necessary.

Next match

Union II next play in 14 days at historic Crew Stadium against Columbus Crew 2 in Columbus, OH, Sunday, September 14^th. It will be the 25^th Union II game of the MLS NEXT Pro’s 28-game regular season.

Three points plus one

1. Jordan Griffin played the full 90 at left back and did well.
2. Time will tell whether Pariano at right back and Benitez at defensive mid becomes coach Richter’s.
3. Gio Sequera’s energy off the bench for Noah Probst at defensive mid contributed noticeably to Union II’s continued defensive success late in the game.
4. We suspect that Markus Anderson is being trained up as a flexible attacker, able to play either striker or attacking mid as the situation warrants.
5. A name to file away for future recognition is Matthew White, an Academy goalkeeper who has been invited to the upcoming US U-17s Identity Camp.

B O X S C O R E

 Lineups

Union II (4-2-2-2, L-R). Head coach Ryan Richter.  1^st – 6+1; UII – 4+7; AA – 1+1.  Starters’ Ave Age = 20.0

Starters: George Marks^1st (25.8);  Jordan Griffin^AA(16.8), Rafael Uzcategui^UI (20.9), Neil Pierre^1st (17.9), Nick Pariano^1st (22.4); Noah Probst^UII (21.0) (Gio Sequera^UII (19.5) 72′), Oscar Benitez ^UII (20.7); Kellen LeBlanc^UII (17.4) (Stas Korzeniowski ^UII (22.6) 64′), Cavan Sullivan^1st (15.9) (Willyam Ferreira ^UII (16.6) 88′); Markus Anderson^1st (21.7) (Malik Yakupovic ^UII (16.2) 88′) , Eddy Davis^1st (19.2) (Sal Olivas^1st (19.1) 64‘).

 Unused substitutes: Mike Sheridan^UII (24.0); Kaiden Moore ^UII (18.3), Jamir Johnson ^AA (17.1),   Leandro Soria ^UII (20.8)

Cincy 2 (4-4-2). Head coach Tyrone Marshall.

Starters: Nathan Crockford (22); William Kuisel (17), Brian Schaefer (23), Andre Chirila (17) (Tega Ikona (22) HT), Noah Adnan (23); Carson Locker (17) (Monsuru Opeyemi (22) 70′), Yamir Uculmana (19) (Jared Cardenas (16) 88′), Peter Mangione (24) (Yair Ramos (19) 60′), Dilan Hurtado (18); Kenji Mboma (23) (Yorkaeff Caicedo (19) 70′), Stefan Chirila (18).

Unused substitutes: Slade Hall (17);  Ben Augee (21), Chance Malilo (15), Dominick Lester (15?).

Goals

Union II           20th minute            Neil Pierre (Cavan Sullivan)

Union II           38th minute            Eddy Davis (Cavan Sullivan)

Cincy 2             54th minute            Tega Ikona

Yellow Cards

Cincy 2               7th minute             Andre Chirila (foul)

Union II           77th minute            Sal Olivas (delay)

Union II           82nd minute           Stas Korzeniowski (foul)

Union II           85th minute           Markus Anderson (foul)

Union II           90+1 minutę          George Marks (delay)

Whistle & Flags

Ref: Drew Klemp; AR¹: Kevin Huet; AR²: Race Williams; 4^th: Salvador Flores.