Photo Philadelphia Union II

Philadelphia Union II fell to Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew 2 on the road after a long weather delay in the first half. Crew 2 scored toward the end of each half through Jamil Danjaji  in the 41st minute and Johann Chirinos in the 90th to secure their tenth win of the season and hand Union II their ninth loss.

 In advance

Academy amateurs Andrew Craig and Lennon Harrington have departed the club to begin their collegiate careers at the University of Michigan and Cornell University respectively.

The first team resumes play next Wednesday, July 22nd, having just completed a closed-door scrimmage against D. C. United at the University of Maryland on Wednesday, July 15th. The scrimmage was closed-door with almost no information made available to the public. Neither Philadelphia team’s schedule affected Union II player availability against Columbus.

According to photos posted by Union II social media, midfielder Paco Dadi, acquired in the winter but suffering a serious injury early in pre-season, is now participating in training. Former Union II head coach Ryan Richter previously expressed doubt about the 19-year-old’s ability to return to play in the 2026 season. We do not know how his recovery timeline has changed, if at all.

Before the match, Crew 2 lay first in the Eastern Conference table on 36 points from 18 games played. Union II lay in 10th on 26 points, also from 18 games, two slots below playoff qualification. Columbus had played three days prior, picking up a shootout win after a 2-2 draw at New England Revolution II.

Since the season totals 28 matches, it is nearly two-thirds complete. Coach Harmon’s team faced and continues to face a challenge.

First half

Kickoff was delayed due to thunderstorms in the area. And then technical difficulties with the livestream cut out the opening minutes of the match.

Eddy Davis put a shot on target early on, but it went right to the Columbus goalkeeper, Luke Pruter. The shot was the only notable action before another weather delay occurred around the 22nd minute. Play did not restart for another hour and three-quarters after the initially scheduled start time of 6 PM ET,

Upon play’s final resumption Matheus De Paula was called for a foul after going shoulder-to-shoulder with a Crew 2 player on the edge of the Union’s box. Union II defended it, countered, and produced a corner kick of their own. The Boys In Blue kept a long possession near and in Columbus’s box but could not produce a shot on target.

Union II maintained attacking pressure in the latter portions of the half. Columbus only made occasional counters.

Malik Jakupovic hit the right post from extremely close range in the 33rd minute after receiving the ball on the endline and bringing it around a defender. LeBlanc had another shot deflected out moments later to win Philadelphia’s sixth corner of the half. All corners were delivered by academy amateur right back De Paula who seems to have supplanted Gio Sequera at that spot for coach Harmon.

Columbus eventually broke through and opened the scoring in the 41st minute. Their pacey left back, Prince Forfor, broke away down the left wing, and De Paula’s interception angle encountered him on the endline close to the goal. Forfor played the ball on the ground into the box for forward Jamil Danjaji’s tap in.

Eddy Davis was fouled and won a free kick roughly thirty yards out from goal in the 45th minute. Kellan LeBlanc took the strike and placed it toward an upper corner of the net, but Crew 2 keeper Pruter punched it out for a corner.

After a minute of added time, Union II went back to the locker room down a goal but nowhere near out of the match.

Second half

Neither side made changes at the break.

Eddy Davis broke down the field with the ball immediately following kickoff, forcing another acrobatic save from Pruter.

Columbus made two changes in the 52nd minute, perhaps reflecting their previously mentioned midweek game.

Jordan Griffin received a yellow card in the 53rd minute. After the Crew’s restart, Finn Sundstrom went down in the Union’s box and needed treatment. He stepped off the pitch, and play resumed with the Union a man down. Fortunately Sundstrom was able to continue.

Giovanny Sequera entered for Tyler Gladstone in the 58th minute.

Rafael Uzcategui had a heroic defensive effort to stop a quick Columbus breakaway in the 60th minute. Crew 2 made two more changes a minute later in the 61st.

Philadelphia striker Malik Jakupovic saw yellow in the 66th for tripping a Crew midfielder after having been chipped.

Union II made three changes in the 74th minute. Theo Reed, Mateo Gallegos, and Samuel Gallego entered for Malik Jakupovic, Jordan Griffin, and Kellan LeBlanc.

Union II made its final change a minute later, bringing on Kaiden Moore for Oscar Benitez.

Andrew Rick came off his line and cleared the ball away in the 80th minute. It was a risky challenge, but it kept Columbus out.

Columbus made the final substitution of the match in the 83rd minute.

Union II had another string of corners after the change. They attacked with numbers, but keeper Pruter continued to defend his goal well. Columbus seemed happy to possess the ball and hang on to the one-goal advantage.

Sequera drew a foul on the very edge of the 18-yard box in the 87th minute. The foul sent Columbus center back Zach Lloyd into the book. Eddy Davis hooked the ball over the mixer and found the head of Uzcategui, but the captain’s attempt went high.

Columbus got back down the field and doubled their lead through Johann Chirinos after Kevin Gbamble had squared it to him in front of Rick. Chirinos sent Rick diving the wrong way.

Next match

Union II next plays away on the seventh day away to Chattanooga at 7:00 PM.

Three points

1. Finn Sundstrom and Rafael Uzcategui had a strong night as a center-back pairing.
2. Andrew Rick played his first known actual game minutes since Union II played in Columbus May 17th two months and two days ago. We know nothing of scrimmages with the national team during the World Cup or with the first team in closed door events after his return from his league mandated post-World Cup break.
3. Academy amateur defender Mateo Gallegos made his professional debut.

B O X S C O R E

Lineups

Union II (4-2-2-2, L-R). Interim head coach Chris Harmon. 1st — 4+1; U II — 4+3; AA — 3+5. Starters’ avg age = 19.0

Starters: Andrew Rick; Jordan Griffin (Sam Gallego— 74′), Rafael Uzcategui, Finn Sundstrom, Matheus De Paula; Timo Mendoza, Oscar Benitez (Kaiden Moore— 75′); Tyler Gladstone (Giovanny Sequera— 58′), Kellan LeBlanc (Mateo Gallegos— 74′); Eddy Davis, Malik Jakupovic (Theo Reed— 74′).

Rick	Griffin	Uzcategui	Sundstrom	De Paula	Mendoza
1st	UII	UII	1st	AA	AA
20.5	17.7	21.8	19.7	17.7	17.0
Benitez	Gladstone	LeBlanc	Davis	Jakupovic
UII	AA	UII	1st	1st
22.1	17.0	18.3	20.1	17.1

Substitutes: Matthew White; Kaiden Moore, Willyam Ferreira, Abdoulaye Diop, Sal Olivas.

White	Moore	Diop	Ferreira	Sequera	Gallego
1st	UII	AA	UII	UII	AA
23.3	19.2	16.5	17.4	20.4	16.3
Gallegos	Reed	Olivas
AA	AA	1st
17.3	17.7	20.0

Crew 2 (5-4-1). Head coach Frederico Higuain. Per Transfermarkt, full squad avg age = 20.2

Starters: Luke Pruter; Prince Forfor, Zach Lloyd, Rui Aoki, Issac Heffess (Jackson Bonos—52′), Brent Adu-Gyamfi, O’Neal Taylor (Jorge Salmeron— 83′), Nicolas Rincon, Giorgio De Libera (Johann Chirinos— 62′), Immanuel Ewing (Kevin Gbamble—52′), Jamil Danjaji (Chase Adams— 62′).

Substitutes: Keller Abbott.

Goals

CC2: Danjaji— 41′

CC2: Chirinos— 90′

Yellow Cards

UII: Griffin— 53′

UII: Jakupovic— 65′

CC2: Lloyd— 87′

Whistle & Flags

REF: Jordan Gray, AR1: Race Williams, AR2: Adam Saleh, 4TH: Bobby Johnson

Stats

CC2	Statistic	UII	CC2	Statistic	UII
10	Shots	17	0	Offsides	1
4	Shots on goal	5	5	Goalkeeper Saves	2
3	Blocked shots	3	5	Clearances	1
407	Total Passes	349
82.8	Pass Accuracy %	82.2	4	Fouls	11
4	Corners	11	1	Yellow Cards	2
1	Total Crosses	11	0	Red Cards	0