Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union II

Philadelphia Union II advanced to its second straight MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference final after taking care of Huntsville City FC at home on Saturday evening. A 67th-minute penalty kick from Stas Korzeniowski was the difference maker.

In advance

Union II play the day before the first team opens its own playoff run, meaning that first team deep reserves made available for long minutes will probably not be expected to contribute the next day for the Union itself.

Kellan LeBlanc, Jamir Johnson, and Jordan Griffin have already departed for the Persian Gulf as part of the US of A U17 team playing in the 2025 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Union II had only five field players on the bench. Per Jonathan Tannenwald, three days before tap in the Inquirer, Cavan Sullivan will remain in Phila as first team attacking midfielder depth until after game two of the first team’s series with Chicago, November 1st. The U.S.’s first group match in November 5th.

First-teamers Andrew Rick, Neil Pierre, Nick Pariano, CJ Olney, Markus Anderson, Eddy Davis, and Sal Olivas dressed for Union II.

Measured by goals allowed during the regular season, the Union II’s conference semifinal matched the two best defenses in the league.

Geography normally precludes much interchangeability between Huntsville City, and Nashville SC and its academy, since they are two hours away and over 100 miles apart. Four first-teamers started last week against Chattanooga.

First half

Referee Matthew Thompson went to his pocket early to caution Huntsville’s Tyshawn Rose for bringing down Markus Anderson outside of the box. CJ Olney’s set-piece delivery was claimed by the visitor’s keeper, Xavier Valdez.

Huntsville’s Phillip Mayaka received a caution of his own in the 6th minute for hitting goalkeeper Andrew Rick after he distributed the ball. The frustration from the visitors was evident, and they continued to retaliate. Gio Sequera was punched in the calf by a Huntsville attacker after a challenge that was not called a foul.

Sequera received a card for persistent infringement six minutes later.

Anderson was brought down again by Pep Casas on the near sideline. This time, Olney’s delivery found the head of Neil Pierre on the back post, but the center back could not get the ball down below the crossbar.

Pierre was cautioned soon after for tugging on the jersey of Andrew Carleton.

Willyam Ferreira had Union II’s first good look towards the goal of the evening, and his shot deflected to the crossbar.

Union II found an attacking spark around the thirty-minute mark, but despite some promising buildup in the midfield, they could not get a shot on target. Oscar Benitez looked especially strong in the first half.

Neil Pierre’s head put the ball in the back of the net off a CJ Olney corner in the 38th minute, but the referee called it back for a foul allegedly comitted by Benitez.

The half ended scoreless with no stoppage time, and nineteen fouls were called.

Second half

Neither side made changes at the break.

Coach Richter made the first change of the match, bringing on Noah Probst for Willyam Ferreira in the 56th. The substitution saw CJ Olney slide out to his more natural attacking midfield position.

Eddy Davis went down after being challenged by a Huntsville midfielder and looked to have discomfort in his leg. He could not continue and made way for Sal Olivas.

Stas Korzienowski won a penalty in the 65th minute after being taken down in the box by Huntsville’s keeper. Korzeniowski stepped up to the spot and scored in the 67th.

Sal Olivas was brought down by Chris Applewhite after receiving a well-threaded pass from Nick Pariano. Olney’s free kick did not threaten in the box.

Olivas had the chance to equalize on the break, but took too long to decide between taking it himself or squaring it to CJ Olney, and ultimately won a corner.

Malik Jakupovic entered for Stas Korzeniowski in the 85th minute.

Huntsville began to play even more physically than before, frustrated with their lack of chances.

The fourth official indicated five minutes of stoppage time, and Union II weathered the storm to move to the Eastern Conference final.

It’s “Win or go home.”

Union II will play Saturday or Sunday, November 1st or 2nd, in a conference final against Chicago Fire II or New York Red Bulls II, depending on which of the two comes out on top after Sunday night’s contest in Montclair, New Jersey, at 7 PM. The match will tap off during the Union’s first-team playoff.

Union II would travel to face first-seeded New York if they win, and would host sixth-seeded Chicago if they get the job done on the road.

Three points

1. Willyam Ferreira made his second professional start and did not look terribly out of place against an older, physical opponent.
2. Referee Matt Thompson called 42 fouls during the match and issued four yellow cards in the first fifteen minutes.
3. Oscar Benitez played the full 90 minutes as a defensive midfielder and managed to stay out of the referee’s book despite his aggressive style of play.

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 – 5+6; no amateurs. Starters’ Ave Age = 20.1

Starters: Andrew Rick^1st; Nick Pariano^1st, Rafael Uzcategui^UII, Neil Pierre^1st, Gio Sequera^UII, Oscar Benitez^UII, CJ Olney^1st, Willyam Ferreira^UII(Noah Probst^UII– 56′), Markus Anderson^1st, Stas Korzeniowski^UII (Malik Jakupovic^UII– 85′), Eddy Davis^1st (Sal Olivas^1st– 60′)

Unused substitutes: Mike Sheridan^UII, Lou Liedtka^UII; Leandro Soria^UII, Kaiden Moore^UII.

Huntsville (4-2-3-1); Head coach Chris O’Neal. 1^st – 4+0; HC – 7+9; no amateurs.

Starters: Xavier Valdez^1st; Tyshawn Rose (Blake Bowen- 59′), Christopher Applewhite^1st, Zach Barrett, Jordan Knight^1st; Pep Casas (Gio Miglietti- 87′), Philip Mayaka; Christian Koffi, Alan Carleton, Damien Barker John (Real Gil- 87′) Maximus Ekk^1st (Gunnar Studenhofft- 72′)

Unused substitutes: Erik Lauta;  Ethan O’Brien, Kevin Carmichael, Gabriel Alonso, Moises Veliz.

Goals

UII: Korzeniowski- 67′

Yellow Cards

H: Tyshawn Rose- 4′

H: Phillip Mayaka- 6′

UII: Giovanny Sequera- 14′

UII: Neil Pierre- 17′

H: Xavier Valdez- 66′

Stats

Whistle & Flags

Ref: Matt Thompson; AR¹: Art Arustamyan; AR²: Rhett Hammil; 4^TH: Luis Diego Arroyo.