Photo courtesy Kevin Barrett / PSP

Philadelphia Union II played host to FC Cincinnati 2 in the first round of the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs, and a Stas Korzeniowski brace saw Philadelphia best Cincinnati for the fourth time in 2025.

 In advance

All MLS NEXT Pro yellow card accumulations have reset to zero for the playoffs.

Should Union II advance to the second round, the highest remaining seed in the east will choose its opponent from the lower two surviving seeds. And the second-highest will play the remaining side.

The call-ups of Cavan Sullivan, Kellen LeBlanc, Jamir Johnson, and Jordan Griffin to the US U-17 side for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, while an honor for the Union organization and a worthwhile opportunity for the players themselves, remove them from further play in the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs. It removes three attacking midfielders from gameday availability, as well as the starting left back.

The first team concluded its Decision Day match in Charlotte, North Carolina, 17 hours before Union II tapped off in Chester against Cincinnati 2. The first-team players made available were Andrew Rick, George Marks, Neil Pierre, Markus Anderson, CJ Olney, Nick Pariano, Sal Olivas, and Eddy Davis. Rick had dressed with the first team in Carolina the night before. George Marks earned the nod in goal after being awarded the MLS Next Pro Save of the Year for a heroic four-save sequence earlier this season while playing for Crown Legacy FC. Homegrown Neil Pierre also received a postseason accolade in the form of the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Defender of the Year award.

Union II had beaten Cincinnati 2 all three times they played in the regular season.

• Most recently, on August 31^st, they won in Northern Kentucky 2-1 on goals by Neil Pierre and Eddy Davis. Cavan Sullivan had both assists.
• Next, on August 3^rd, they won at home 1-0 on an unassisted golazo in the 2^nd minute from Kellan LeBlanc.
• Earliest, on June 3^rd, they thumped Cincy 4-1 in Northern Kentucky, with two first-half tallies from Eddy Davis and Markus Anderson, and two late-game clinchers from Gio Sequera and Malik Jakupovic. They played that day with only four field player substitutes.

The scores reflect that in 2025, Cincinnati improved greatly after a poor start.

 First half

In the second minute, Rafael Uzcategui was brought down in the box by a Cincinnati defender whose arms were around his torso. Referee Corbyn May did not call a foul, much to the dismay of Union II. He allowed play to be physical during the early minutes.

Kellan LeBlanc immediately impressed on the near sideline. His 1v1 dribbling continues to improve.

Stas Korzienowski opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a header on the end of a Kellan LeBlanc free kick.

Cincinnati had been slowing down play up until the goal, after which they were forced to fight for one of their own. As the attacking pressure from the visitors increased, George Marks rose to the occasion and made crucial saves.

Former Union academy player turned Cincinnati homegrown Stefan Chirila had the visitors’ best chance of the first half, having been through on goal with only George Marks to beat. The 18-year-old put his shot just wide of the far post.

Cincinnati equalized in the 37th minute on a quickly taken free kick by Mboma Dem that caught the Union defense off guard. Andres Davila was the goalscorer after a Peter Mangione cross.

Korzeniowski nearly pulled his side ahead minutes later, but his curling shot went just wide of the net.

Sal Olivas had his hand kicked directly in front of the official, who did not call a foul. The sympathy call came after the next restart, with Korzeniowski’s legs becoming tied up with a Cincinatti player’s on the ground. CJ Olney’s ball went long of the mixer and was claimed by the goalkeeper, Paul Walkers.

The sides went to the locker room in a deadlock.

 Second half

Neither side made changes at the break.

Noah Adnan put in a sliding challenge on Markus Anderson just outside of the box, but did not get a card. The ensuing delivery by Olney was punched away by Walters, and Gio Sequera’s one-time attempt on the rebound went high into the stands.

Soon after, Markus Anderson intercepted the ball outside of the Cincinnati box and played it back to LeBlanc. The teenager’s strike was denied by Walters at full extension. Neil Pierre could not put his header on frame on the corner kick.

Gio Sequera and George Marks combined to quell a Cincinnati break that started on an uncalled hands-to-the-face offense on Uzcategui. Play went right back the other way for Union II to win a corner.

Oscar Benitez entered for Sal Olivas in the 61st minute, pushing CJ Olney to the wing and Markus Anderson to striker.

Korzeniowski bagged his second of the match in the 64th minute on a CJ Olney assist from the wing.

Benitez received the first caution of the match for a late hit on Mboma Dem in the midfield. Stiven Jimenez retaliated on the next Union break, bringing down Kellan LeBlanc, who had already dribbled past.

Cincinnati continued to be aggressive and fouled both Neil Pierre and Gio Sequera. The advantage was given for the first foul, and a free kick and yellow card to Andres Davila came out of the second. Kellan LeBlanc’s free kick hit Uzcategui in the face and was claimed by Walters.

Willyam Ferreira and Malik Jakupovic entered for Kellan LeBlanc and Markus Anderson.

Jordan Griffin began to experience leg cramping sometime after the 80th minute, and after off-field treatment, was not fit enough to continue. He gave a valiant effort to stay in, but was replaced by Noah Probst, who moved Benitez to center back and Uzcategui to left-back.

Through three minutes of stoppage time, Union II stood tall to hand FC Cincinnati 2 its second first-round exit from the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs in two years.

It’s “Win or go home.”

Union II will play Saturday or Sunday, October 25^th or 26^th, in a conference semifinal against Chicago Fire II or Huntsville City FC, depending on which of the two the first-seeded New York Red Bulls II choose during the week. Both Chicago and Huntsville won on the road in this first round, and Red Bulls II stayed strong at home.

Three points,

1. Stas Korzeniowski continued his impressive form into the postseason and now has seven goals in his last five matches.
2. Rafael Uzcategui is an anchor in the defensive line, and his move to the left back position for the final six minutes and stoppage time suggests he could be an option there going forward when amateur Jordan Griffin departs for the U-17 World Cup in the event of Union II still being in the playoffs at that juncture.
3. Nick Pariano and CJ Olney complement each other nicely at the dual sixes, but Olney’s switch to the attacking midfield had a near instant impact with Union II’s game-winning goal.

B O X S C O R E   

Lineups

Union II (4-2-2-2, L-R). Head coach Ryan Richter. 1^st – 6+0; UII – 4+7; AA – 1+1. Starters’ Ave Age = 20.3

Starters: George Marks^1st Jordan Griffin^AA (Noah Probst^UII– 84′) Rafael Uzcategui^UII, Neil Pierre^1st, Gio Sequera^UII; CJ Olney^1st, Nick Pariano^1st; Markus Anderson^1st(Malik Jakupovic^UII– 82′) Kellan LeBlanc^UII(Willyam Ferreira^UII– 82′), Stas Korzeniowski^UII, Sal Olivas^1st(Oscar Benitez^UII– 61′)

Unused substitutes: Mike Sheridan^UII; Kaiden Moore^UII, Jamir Johnson^AA, Leandro Soria^UII.

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

Starters: Paul Walters; William Kuisel (Yorkaeff Caicedo- 76′), Peter Mangione (Carson Locker- ’84), Andrei Chirila, Noah Adnan, Stiven Jimenez, Kenji Dem, Ademar Chaves (Yair Ramos- 60′), Yamir Uculmana (Tega Ikoba- 84′), Stefan Chirila, Andres Davila

Unused substitutes: Nathan Crockford; Ben Augee, Juan Machado, Brandon Kristel

 Goals

UII: Korzeniowski- 10′ (LeBlanc)

C2: Davila- 37′ (Mangione, Dem)

UII: Korzeniowski- 64′ (Olney)

Yellow Cards

UII: Benitez- 71′

C2: Jimenez- 72′

C2: Davila– 74′

Stats

Whistle & Flags

Ref: Corbyn May; AR¹: Zach McWhorter; AR²: Eric Del Rosario Gandara; 4^th: Stephanie MacFarland.