Photo courtesy Kyle Grantham/ Philly Soccer Page

The Philadelphia Union played its final preseason friendly of 2026 against CF Montreal at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in Clearwater, Florida.

What started as a great showing by Philadelphia in the first half became a physical contest, where Montreal piled on three unanswered goals in the second half despite going down a man in the 67^th minute.

In advance

Earlier in the day, the Philadelphia Union announced the signing of 23-year-old winger Agustin Anello through the 2028-29 season with a club option for 2029-30. He joins from Boston River, with previous experience in Spain, Belgium, and Croatia. Anello also represented the United States at the U-23 level in 2023. The fee is reported to be around the $2 million mark.

He joins during the Uruguayan league’s winter break between the apertura and clausura segments of their season.

First group

Andre Blake got the start in goal, behind a back line of Nathan Harriel, Olwethu Makhanya, Japhet Sery Larsen, and Frankie Westfield. Jovan Lukic and Danley Jean Jacques were the holding midfielders.

Newcomer Agustin Anello fell right into the fold and was part of the starting lineup on the left wing, across from Alejandro Bedoya on the right. They supported Ezekiel Alladoh and Milan Iloski up top in what appeared like a full-strength starting eleven.

Former Philadelphia Union men Brandan Craig and Fabian Herbers both started for Montreal.

The Boys in Blue started on an attacking foot with four corners in the opening ten minutes, two outswingers and one inswinger, all delivered by Milan Iloski. The first two were promising chances, with the third being claimed by the Montreal keeper, and the fourth spilling out for a Montreal counter. Blake went in for the 50/50 against the oncoming attacker to keep it nil-nil.

Herbers received a yellow card for dissent following a foul on Danley Jean Jacques in the 15^th minute.

Bedoya had a quality volley denied in the 22^nd minute on the end of some full-team holdup play.

The Union pulled ahead in the 28^th minute. Alladoh played it back to Westfield, who tipped it over to Iloski, who put it top bins.

Alladoh had a one-on-one chance a few minutes later, but the Montreal keeper was able to deny him in time for reinforcements to arrive.

Harriel got a yellow card in the 35^th minute for a hard foul on Montreal’s Hennadii Synchuk. The stoppage allowed for both teams to get water and receive brief instructions from their coaching staff.

Montreal’s head coach appeared to have been shown a red card in the aftermath of the altercation.

Just after, Agustin Anello found Milan Iloski to get an assist in his first outing in a Union shirt.

Another Union player saw yellow in the 40^th minute.

Frankie Westfield was called for a penalty after shoving a Montreal attacker off the ball in the 45^th minute. Andre Blake was unable to make the save.

Second half

Cavan Sullivan and Ben Bender entered at the break for Bedoya and Anello. Anello was effective on both sides of the ball and did not look out of place at all in his first minutes with the squad.

Montreal brought on their stronger players, and it would soon pay off. The visitors equalized in the 49^th minute through Wikelman Carmona on a Prince Owusu assist.

Owusu received a caution in the 53^rd minute for an elbow to Japhet Sery Larsen. His size and pace proved a challenge for the Union’s back line to keep up with.

Dagur Thorhallsson was next to see yellow for kicking the ball away after fouling Cavam Sullivan.

Geiner Martinez entered for Japhet Sery Larsen in the 63^rd minute.

Montreal pulled ahead in the 66^th minute from Olger Escobar. He received the ball from a teammate who creatively brought down a previously blocked shot.

The go-ahead goal was quickly overshadowed when Iloski received a studs-up, diving tackle a minute later. The referee issued a straight red card to Efrain Moralez, the offender, and a brief fight between both teams took place. The goalscorer stayed down holding his left ankle and was unable to continue after an examination by training staff.

Sal Olivas entered for Iloski, and the Union regained control of the match with a man advantage.

Stas Korzeniowski and Rafael Uzcategui entered for Alladoh and Makhanya in the 77^th minute. Uzcategui went to left back and shifted Harriel inside to left center back.

Prince Owusu elbowed a second player in the face in the 79^th, but did not receive a second yellow for it.

Owusu scored to make it 4-2 in the 85^th minute. He had the height advantage over his defender, Uzcategui, on the cross into the box and was able to head it past Blake.

Uzcategui saw yellow in the 88^th for an unnecessary foul, and the match ended shortly thereafter.

Andrew Rick, George Marks, Olivier Mbaizo, Finn Sundstrom, CJ Olney, Jesus Bueno, Jeremy Rafanello, Eddy Davis, Bruno Damiani, and Indiana Vassilev did not participate.

 

Onto the CONCACAF Champions Cup

The Philadelphia Union begins its season with a trip to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, at 6 PM on February 18^th, to take on the Defense Force in the first round of Champions Cup action

Three points

• Agustin Anello made his unofficial Union debut on the day of his announcement.
• Blake, Harriel, Westfield, Lukic, and Danley were the five Union players who played the full 90 minutes.
• Milan Iloski had a brace before being forced out due to the flying scissor tackle in the 67^th

Union Lineup (4-2-2-2; L-R)

Andre Blake; Frankie Westfield, Olwethu Makhanya (Rafael Uzcategui 77’), Japhet Sery Larsen (Geiner Martinez 63’), Nate Harriel, Jovan Lukic, Danley Jean Jacques, Agustin Anello (Ben Bender 45’), Alejandro Bedoya (Cavan Sullivan 45’), Milan Iloski (Sal Olivas 70’), Ezekiel Alladoh (Stas Korzeniowski 77’)

 

 

 

M I N U T E S 0-45/63/70/77
	Striker			Striker
	Alladoh, Korzeniowski		Iloski, Olivas
Attck Mid					Attck Mid
Anello, Bender					Bedoya, C Sullivan
	Def Mid			Def Mid
	Lukic			Danley
Left Back	Lft Cn Bck		Rgt Cn Bck		Right Back
Harriel, Uzcategui	Makhanya, Harriel		Sery Larsen, Martinez		Westfield
		Goalkeeper
		Blake

 

Scoring

Union	28	Iloski (Westfield)
Union	38	Iloski (Anello)
Montreal	45	Rios (Penalty)
Montreal	49	Carmona (Owusu)
Montreal	66	Escobar
Montreal	85	Owusu