Photo Philadelphia Union Communications

Philadelphia Union II’s mentality was stronger than Chicago Fire II’s Sunday afternoon on  Bridgeview, Illinois’s well-worn grass pitch. After surrendering a go-ahead goal to the hosts on an own goal in the 30th minute, man-of-the-match Kellan LeBlanc equalized in the 66th. Chicago then provided a go-ahead failure to clear to Philadelphia’s Theo Reed eight minutes later.

Fire II are eliminated from the playoffs by the result, while Philadelphia remains able to control its own playoff fate.

Of equal interest is the contrast in philosophy between the two organizations. Chicago started 37-year-old player coach Omar Gonzalez, a former US Men’s national team mainstay who is six months older than Ryan Richter. It is gently ironic that Gonzalez failed to clear the feed that enabled the winning score for his opponents.

IN ADVANCE

Player availability

Union II was playing roughly seventeen hundred miles away from the first team because the Union itself was playing five hours later on Sunday evening in San Diego. No double duty was possible. First team reserves had to be on one plane or the other.

Since number five first-team striker Malik Jakupovic showed flashes of comfort with first team levels of intensity last Wednesday evening against Cincinnati in Chester, he was not in Chicago. Finn Sundstrom was there, and Sal Olivas again rode Union II’s bench.

Before the weekend’s potential for altering the statistics happened, interim head coach Chris Harmon was dressing the league’s leader in fouls committed per 90 minutes, academy striker John Ruf. Ruf and Theo Reed were expected to be his starting strikers. Also before play commenced, on his bench was one of the  three league leaders in yellow cards (9), midfielder Gio Sequera. A tip of PSP’s cap to colleague Alex Hayden who found these two details.

Since George Marks got his periodic tune-up last weekend, Pierce Holbrook returned to keep goal.

Former 2026 Union II players

The following events occurred — or in one case did not — before play commenced this weekend.

• Eddy Davis had a hat trick for Loudoun against Colorado Springs.
• Stas Korzeniowski struck the equalizer for Rhode Island FC against Louisville, having played the entire ninety in his debut.
• C. J. Olney was leading Brooklyn FC in appearances (21) and minutes (1,761).
• Markus Anderson had not yet appeared for Lyngby Boldklub of Denmark’s Superliga, having arrived in Denmark only on or around Wednesday, September 2nd. 

Playoffs

Before tap-off in Bridgeview, Illinois, Union II still controlled its own playoff destiny. Two wins in its final two games would see them join a playoff process that now includes a wild-card play-in game. Three teams were tied on points at 39 each, two points behind Orlando City B who were ninth and before play would have been the visiting team for the play-in game. Toronto lay 10th, Union II lay 11th, and Chicago lay 12th based on tiebreakers.

THE MATCH

First half

Chris Harmon’s men were on the front foot for the first 20 minutes, but generated few actual threats to Chicago’s goal.

Then Chicago began to emerge from its defensive shell. In addition to the own goal that Chicago pressure generated they hit the post twice and had another top chance when they should have scored but missed an indefensible net.

Philadelphia’s body language after Chicago scored did not bode well for its future in the game.

Second half 

It took a head injury to right back Matheus De Paula in the 49th minute that forced Philly to play a man down while he was being evaluated to shake the visitors out of their mental slump.

In the 56th minute LeBlanc skied what should have been the equalizer well above the bar. In the 66th, however, he controlled his emotions to drill a low shot past the Chicago defense and change the feel of the game. Chicago’s morale slumped as did their energy. And coach Harmon made his first substitution of the match sending on Tyler Gladstone for Willyam Ferreira before the restart after LeBlanc’s strike.

Chicago tried to reassert the control and threat they had exercised in the last 20 minutes of the first half. Holbrook was forced in the 70th to make another of his important saves. And 90 seconds later Oscar Benitez received the only yellow card of the match for pulling his mark down from behind to prevent another goal threat.

But then Philadelphia worked it to Jordan Griffin down the left channel who delivered a low cross along the endline. And Oscar Gonzalez’s failed attempt to deflect it clear with his head instead allowed Theo Reed to score Philadelphia’s winner in the 74th.

By the 80th minute it was clear that both teams were spent. For the last ten minutes plus stoppage time Philadelphia was trying to kill the clock as it it worked to survive, And Chicago tried hard to find the equalizer. But there was no change in the only statistic that mattered, on the scoreboard.

Next Match

Union II will finish the regular season on Decision Day next Sunday the 20th of September at 2:00 PM at Kinetic field #1 of the WSFS Sportsplex playing on seven days’ rest. They will host New York City FC II. Going into this weekend’s play, NYC II held eighth place, the wild card play-in game’s host for the eastern conference.

Three points + plus

1. Both assists on the two Union goals came from their respective outside backs. De Paula fed LeBlanc and Griffin fed Reed.
2. We do not know why Gio Sequera deputized for Abdoulaye Diop at defensive midfield, but the combining him with Oscar Benitez in the defensive midfield was crucial to Philadelphia’s defending success.
3. Pierce Holbrook was credited with four saves all of which were major in frustrating their hosts’ attempts to run away with the game.
4. Postgame Union II lie in 9th place in the MLS NEXT Pro eastern conference.

B O X S C O R E

Lineups

Union II (4-2-2-2, L-R). Interim head coach Chris Harmon. Roster sources: 1st — 1+1; U II — 6+3; AA — 4+5. Starters’ average age = 18.9.

Starters: Pierce Holbrook; Jordan Griffin, Kaiden Moore, Finn Sundstrom, Gio Sequera; Matheus De Paula, Oscar Benitez; Willyam Ferreira, Kellan LeBlanc; Theo Reed, John Ruf.

Holbrook	Griffin	Moore	Sundstrom	Sequera	De Paula
U II	U II	U II	1st	U II	AA
23.4	17.9	18.8	19.8	20.5	17.8
Benitez	LeBlanc	Ferreira	Reed	Ruf
U II	U II	U II	AA	AA
22.3	18.5	17.6	17.8	17.3

Substitutes: Abram Judy; Oliver Pratt, Rafael Uzcategui, Abdoulaye Diop, Timo Mendoza, Mamoutou Berthe, Tyler Gladstone, Sal Olivas.

Judy	Pratt	Uzcategui	Diop	Mendoza	Berthe
AA	U II	U II	AA	AA	AA
16.9	22.9	21.9	17.5	17.2	16.5
Gladstone	Olivas
AA	1st
17.2	20.2

Fire II (4-2-3-1). Head coach Mike Matkovich. Per transfermarkt, full squad average age = 19.6.

Starters: Jason Nemo, Jr.; Chase Nagle, Omar Gonzalez, Jack Sandemeyer, Milan Napoe; Trip Fleming, Oscar Pineda; Brody Williams, Vitaliy Hlyut, Damyan Villenueva; Dean Boltz.

Substitutes: Mateo Clark, Jhoiner Montiel, Emiliano Chaveztidiane Diawara, G Gongadze, H Bernhardt.

Goals

Fire II      30th minute       Kaiden Moore (own goal)

Union II  66th minute        Jordan LeBlanc (Matheus De Paula)

Union II  74th minute         Theo Reed (Jordan Griffin)

Yellow Cards

Union II 72nd minute         Oscar Benitez (professional foul)

Whistle & Flags

REF: Rafael Bonilla; AR1: Ethan Buege; AR2: Leo Mora; 4TH: John Kennedy

Stats

F II	Statistic	U II	F II	Statistic	U II
17	Shots	8	1	Offsides	1
5	Shots on goal	3	1	Goalkeeper Saves	4
3	Blocked shots	1	3	Clearances	6
509	Total Passes	314
84.3	Pass Accuracy %	71.7	14	Fouls	18
2	Corners	4	0	Yellow Cards	1
6	Total Crosses	7	0	Red Cards	0