Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union
On Ash Wednesday, the Philadelphia Union hung 5 goals on Defence Force F.C. in Trinidad & Tobago. The Boys in Blue’s victory marked a strong return to CONCACAF Champions Cup action after missing out last season. Milan Iloski scored and assisted, Ezekiel Alladoh tallied a debut goal, and Cavan Sullivan bagged his first career assist.
First Half
Despite some shuffling of the defensive personnel, the Philadelphia Union were largely able to stifle Defence Force’s attack throughout the contest. The Trini club was limited to just 4 shots compared to the Union’s 18, with 2 of those coming as speculative long range efforts in the opening 20 minutes.
The Union had the better share of chances, but their first real opportunity didn’t come until the 21st minute. Alejandro Bedoya slotted a ball to an open Milan Iloski in the box, but the Escondido man couldn’t get the shot off, and the chance went begging.
Defence Force nearly took an unlikely lead shortly after. Following a coming together between former MLSer Kevin Molino and Danley Jean-Jacques, Kathon Saint Hillaire had a breakaway 1v1 opportunity. Andrew Rick, who was making his first CCC appearance, was quick to come off his line and make the stop – but the linesman’s flag went up for offside and negated the play.
Philadelphia responded in kind. Another coming together between Molino and Jean-Jacques resulted in a foul awarded to the Union in the attacking third. The quick free kick saw Ezekiel Alladoh lay off a pass to Iloski, who ripped a shot from the top of that box that forced a diving save from Isaiah Williams.
In the 29th minute, another Iloski shot from a similar area would open the scoring for the Union. Jesús Bueno was fouled inside the ‘D’, resulting in a dangerous free kick for Philly and a yellow for Defense Force’s Tyrese Bailey. From the ensuing free kick, Iloski beautifully lifted a shot over the wall, and under the bar to find the back of the net.
The Union kept up the pressure and got their second in the 32nd minute. Frankie Westfield delivered a near-perfect ball to Alladoh, who powered home a header to tally a debut goal. The Ghanian forward became the 7th Union player to score on his debut, and joins the likes of Gabriel Gomez, Andrew Wenger, Anthony Fontana, Marco Fabian, Brendan Aaronson, and Bruno Damiani in the annals of Union history.
In an effort to reduce the deficit before half-time, the Teteron Boys threw numbers forward. They had two good attacking opportunities; one that forced Rick into a low save at his near post, and another that saw Joevin Jones’s shot blocked by Nathan Harriel. The half-time whistle sounded, with Philly in the driver’s seat.
Second Half
The Union kept their foot on the gas, and were able to increase their lead in the 64th minute with another headed goal. This time it was Olwethu Makhanya rippling the net from a Milan Iloski corner kick.
Following the goal, Union Head Coach Bradley Carnell turned to his bench, bringing on Bruno Damiani, Cavan Sullivan, and Sery Larsen. These changes seemed to re-energize the game, with Sullivan and Damiani almost immediately combining for a fourth Philadelphia goal. It was the 16 year old Sullivan’s first career assist for the Union, and a great finish from the Uruguayan forward.
In the 72nd minute Sullivan nearly painted the top corner with a strike from long range, but his shot went just over.
The young star was involved in another attack in the 77th minute, drawing contact in the box that was deemed to be a penalty after a VAR check. Damiani stepped up to take the kick, and converted, despite Williams getting a hand on the shot.
With the clock nearing 90, a wild sliding challenge from DFC’s Noel on Sullivan sparked a confrontation between players from both sides. With Bedoya acting as a peacemaker, and a yellow card issued to the offending player, the matter was seemingly resolved.
Not to be outdone however, Joevin Jones was sent off in added time after receiving a second yellow card for a last-ditch slide tackle on the oft-invovled Sullivan.
After the allotted three minutes of injury time the game was brought to a close. Philadelphia secured their first win of the season, and a 5-0 lead in the tie.
The Union will return to the United States to open their 2026 MLS campaign against rivals D.C. United this Saturday, February 21st at Audi Field. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM.
3 Points:
- Carnell’s Personel: With much discussion around how Carnell would replace Kai Wagner at left back, it was somewhat surprising to see Frankie Westfield slot into that spot, only to have Rafanello opposite him at right back. While both played well, Westfield bagged a great assist and looked a natural fit. Is this a semi-permanent solution (until another LB is signed) or a one-off? We’ll get a better idea this Saturday.
- Cavan Sullivan: The future Manchester City player threatened to take over the game after subbing in. He provided his first career assist for the Union, won a penalty, and drew multiple fouls with his pace and dribbling. Is this the year he breaks out?
- Debutants: The Union had 4 players make their debut in this one. I’m not sure if that’s a club record (since the inaugural match of course), but it must be the most in a while. With understandable concerns regarding their roster turnover this season, tonight was a great way to get off the mark and blood some of the new talent.
Lineups
Philadelphia Union (4-2-2-2): Andrew Rick (GK), Frankie Westfield (Indiana Vassilev 82’), Olwethu Makhanya (Finn Sundstrom 73’), Nathan Harriel (Sery Larsen 65’), Jeremy Rafanello, Jesus Bueno, Danley Jean-Jacques, Alejandro Bedoya, Milan Iloski (Cavan Sullivan 65’), Ezekiel Alladoh (Bruno Damiani 65’), Stas Korzeniowski
Unused Subs: Jabari St. Hillaire, Nicholas Dillon, Philip Tinto, Adriel George, Curtis Gonzales, Keston Julien, Russell Francois
Defence Force F.C. (4-2-3-1): Isaiah Williams (GK), Tristan Hodge (J. Felix 75’), Sheldon Bateau, S. Noel, Isaiah Garcia (C. Bailey 82’), J.J. Araujo-Wilson (R. Coryat 66’), Justin Sadoo, Tyrese Bailey (D. Olliviera 66’), Kevin Molino, Jovein Jones, Kathon Saint Hillaire (P. Nelson 82’)
Unused Subs: George Marks, Andre Blake, Ben Bender, CJ Olney, Eddy Davis, Sal Olivas, Agustin Anello
Scoring Summary:
PHI: Milan Iloski (FK) – 29’
PHI: Ezekiel Alladoh (Frankie Westfield) – 32’
PHI: Olwethu Makhanya (Milan Iloski) – 64’
PHI: Bruno Damiani (Cavan Sulluvan) – 69’
PHI: Bruno Damiani (PK) – 81’
Disciplinary Summary:
DFC: Tyrese Bailey (Yellow) – 35’
PHI: Nathan Harriel (Yellow) – 54’
DFC: Joevin Jones (Yellow) – 70’
DFC: Justin Sadoo (Yellow) – 84’
DFC: S. Noel (Yellow) – 89’
DFC: Joevin Jones (2nd Yellow) – 90 + 2’
No injuries
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Can we get a dunk contest between Harriel and Makhanya? They can elevate!
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We have the 2026 catch phrase in the first match – Absolute Fornication
Yes to “Absolute fornication.” That commentator was great.
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“Could knit a sweater with that cultured left foot.”
He hilariously didn’t pronounce Cavan twice the same way.
I heard that too. Mouth dropped then roared laughing! I liked that announcer.
I agree. At first, I thought, this guy is just too monotone. Then he started dropping in golden nuggets for phrases and I was hooked. Crapple needs to pair him up with JP.
Club America will be a real test.
And Sat night in DC… should be a great night for soccer! 40s and cloudy. Doop!
After some early season jitters the boys showed some good promise and potential. It’s only one game, against the JV, but a good start.
After we went up 4-0 I kept wondering why Bradley didn’t sub off Westfield. He was clearly having a hamstring issue I just don’t know why he didn’t get taken off to save up for Saturday.
I also really liked the commentator. He was clearly very well prepared and offered some good insight, as well as the occasional turn of a phrase.
” Cavan has been everywhere – nibbling, picking, slicing.”
He also said “Brian Carnell” before the match and said it was “Makhanya’s debut”, but overall liked him
Amen regarding the announcer, a real gem. His football knowledge was solid and his turns of phrases were charming. Even his trivial errors with the unfamiliar Union players made me smile, e.g., pronouncing Cavan’s name with an Afro-Trini hard ‘a’ rather than the Irish soft ‘a’ (‘Cavan’ is a county in Ireland).
. . .
The real test comes with the brutal bracket where we’ll next face Club America. If we win, then it’s likely Miami. That’s a heavy lift for a fresh young team after Sugarman’s garage sale. Since ownership doesn’t prioritize winning championships, I just want the current squad to gain experience from CCC as long as they can. Up 5 goals, Carnell is free to further experiment in the second leg and give time to the new/young like Cavan for a full 90 or at least half.
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Saturday is a real test with an improved DCU including Baribo who knows us. 50 degrees and dry as forecast, it’s worth the short road trip by Union fans.
I went to the end of season game at DC last year. If anyone is considering going, I highly recommend. The seats are angled so steeply that you feel like you are on top of the field.
“Iloski is going to reallllly struggle to get consistent game time with this squad “……
Lmfao! Could someone tell him #10 is your best player?
Zeke impressed far more in the air than at sea level. Something I noticed in his clips. We don’t have anyone like that up top so…..useful.
Considering the opposition, last night might have been the best stint I’ve seen #6 play.
After the goal the team settled down and started playing like a team that was far more talented than the opposition. Disappointing that a team from T&T couldn’t get a better crowd for a CCC game. At least the home game on the return should have more Union fans in the stadium than Defence Force FC.
As well as Cavan played, his teammates getting in opposing players faces for the physical play was a good sign. I would imagine that will be par for the course at the start of the season in MLS. Overall the team played well and it was good to see the forwards score in this game.
Loved that we kept piling it on. This makes the next game at home an easy midweek rest for most of the starters. Doop!
You can’t really judge defense when you’re playing a team at that level, so I will remain noncommittal about, for example, whether Jeremy Rafanello can actually be a right back (and why we would want him to be).
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But the offense still has to execute and capitalize, so I can still be very pleased at several really sweet finishes, including one from the big new signing. I have a hunch we might not have to miss Tai Baribo too much this season. And Iloski’s free kick was pure class.
The starting line up to kick off season on Saturday has my interests piqued….
Admittedly I did not pay attention much this preseason…
How often will we see the kid.