Photo Kevin Barrett

Union II hosted New York City FC II on MLS NEXT Pro’s decision day 2026. Given the way the other matches turned out, the Boys in Blue needed a win in regulation and help from elsewhere to qualify for the playoffs. They did not succeed.

The visitors opened the scoring in the first half, and Kellan LeBlanc drew level for Philadelphia on a free kick early in the second. Then in the 81st minute a second yellow card to first-team reserve center back Geiner Martinez who was playing right back for the second team ejected him from the match for denial of a goal-scoring opportunity on a breakaway. Although goalkeeper Andrew Rick saved the consequences penalty kick, and Martinez’s banishment left Union II having to push for a winner a man down in the last ten minutes.

The match finished level, and New York came away with the extra point from the post-regulation shootout despite a stellar effort from Rick.  For the first time in the league’s short history, Philadelphia Union II has failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Player Availability

The first team played the day before Saturday, September 19th, away in Kansas City. No double duty by first team reserves was possible. Finn Sundstrom started at center back, Andrew Rick started in goal, Geiner Martinez started at right back, and Sal Olivas rode the bench. Rick stayed home from the first team’s trip to Kansas City so he could be available for the second team and have game minutes before Andre Blake is called away for international duty. Martinez was also made available to Union II at right back, probably for the same reason since the five first-team international duty call-ups will force the first team to re-arrange its defense drastically next weekend against Orlando City. 

The Academy U-18s also played the day before, Saturday, September 19th, away to NYC FC U-18s. They won 7-0.

Decision Day

Technically and arithmetically, Philadelphia’s playoff chances were still on life support. But they were unlikely.

NYC FC II lay 6th in the table on 45 points, not yet having clinched a playoff berth.  Union II lay 10th in the table on 42 points, one place and one point below qualifying for the recently added wild card play-in game.

Other matches relevant to Philadelphia’s qualification chances were eighth-place Orlando City B who lost to fifth-place Atlanta United 2 and ninth-place CT United who advanced top the table by clobbering  last place Inter Miami II. Huntsville City delivered the coup de grace to Philadelphia’s hopes by winning out over Red Bull New York II 2-1.

First half

Both sides had their share of chances in the opening fifteen minutes.

Finn Sundstrom had a very well-timed tackle to deny New York City roving striker Maximo Carrizo on a break.

Carrizo got open again in the 19th minute and had his shot denied by Andrew Rick. The break was the third time Jordan Griffin got caught too far up the field, leaving a player in space behind him. From the open ing whistle Philly had to take risks to try to score.

New York’s Adonis Campos was booked for a foul on Matheus De Paula in the 27th minute. Tensions rose throughout the half as both teams failed to get into attacking positions.

The visitors pulled ahead in the 43rd minute when Griffin was once again caught upfield in transition, leaving Carrizo open in space to play the ball to Drew Kerr in the center.

Union II went to the locker room with a hill to climb after the break.

Second half

New York’s Peter Molinari was cautioned in the 49th minute for a late tackle on Giovanny Sequera. Geiner Martinez was then fouled on the edge of the box a minute later, giving Union II a free kick in a very dangerous area. Kellan LeBlanc stood over the ball and put it into the top bin to level the score.

Andrew Rick made another impressive save through traffic to keep things level in the 58th minute.

Geiner Martinez was cautioned in the 62nd minute for a hit into the chest of New York captain Jonathan Lopez. Three minutes later Jordan Griffin was cautioned for a foul off the ball.

Willyam Ferreira entered for Finn Sundstrom in the 66th minute. The change slid Giovanny Sequera to right back, and Geiner Martinez to center back. The move signaled a raised level of intense defensive pressure up the field by the hoists, ending the first half’s low block approach.

Tyler Gladstone entered for John Ruf in the 78th minute, pushing Kellan LeBlanc forward to play striker.

Geiner Martinez was given a second yellow card and called for a penalty after stopping the aforementioned New York breakaway. The New York player appeared offside to start the play, but the assistant referee’s flag did not rise. Also as discussed, Rick saved the penalty kick.

Rafael Uzcategui entered for Matheus De Paula in the 84th to replace Martinez at center back and hold down the back line. As other games stood across the league, Union II needed a win in regulation to make the playoffs.

Rick had another save in the 85th minute.

Kellan LeBlanc was cautioned in the 89th minute for attempting to slide tackle a New York player from behind.

Rafael Uzcategui and Andrew Rick combined to stop a huge New York breakaway in stoppage time.

Tyler Gladstone was brought down near the box in the 4th minute of stoppage time. But LeBlanc could not do anything with the free kick.

The match ended level in regulation before a lackluster shootout — only three of ten penalties were scored — gave the extra point to New York City.

Three points

1. Andrew Rick had a stellar performance in his tune-up appearance.
2. Geiner Martinez has had a match-altering error in each of his two MLS NEXT Pro appearances in 2026. He also won the free kick that allowed LeBlanc to tie the match.
3. Kaiden Moore has taken a step forward in his development as a center back.

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 — 3+1; U II — 5+4; AA — 3+3. Starters average age = 19.6

Starters: Andrew Rick; Jordan Griffin, Kaiden Moore, Finn Sundstrom (Willyam Ferreira— 66′), Geiner Martinez; Oscar Benitez, Matheus De Paula (Rafael Uzcategui— 84′); Giovanny Sequera, Kellan LeBlanc; Theo Reed, John Ruf (Tyler Gladstone— 78′).

Rick	Griffin	Moore	Sundstrom	Martinez	Benitez
1st	U II	U II	1st	1st	UII
20.6	17.9	19.4	19.8	23.7	22.3
De Paula	Sequera	LeBlanc	Reed	Ruf
AA	U II	U II	AA	AA
17.9	20.6	18.5	17.9	17.4

Substitutes: Pierce Holbrook; Oliver Pratt, Abdoulaye Diop, Samuel Gallego, Sal Olivas.

Holbrook	Pratt	Uzcategui	Diop	Gallego	Ferreira
UII	U II	U II	AA	AA	UII
23.4	22.9	22.0	16.6	16.5	17.6
Gladstone	Olivas
AA	1st
17.2	20.2

NYC FC II  (4-3-3). Head coach Matt Pilkington. Per Transfermarkt, full squad average age = 21.2.

Starters: Mac Learned; Max Murray, Joao Loiola, Kevin Pierre, Cooper Flax, Peter Molinari, Maximo Carrizo (Joseph Suchecki— 90+’), Luka Sunjic (Jacob Arroyave— 81′), Drew Kerr, Jonathan Lopez, Adonis Campos

Substitutes: Dylan McDermott, Gabriel Mendoza, Caleb Danquah, Camilo Ponce, Elhadji Samb, David Duque.

Goals

NYC: Kerr— 43′

UII: LeBlanc— 52′

Yellow Cards

NYC: Campos— 27′

NYC: Molinari— 49′

UII: Martinez— 62′

UII: Griffin— 65′

NYC: Sunjic— 67′

UII: Martinez— 82′ (second caution, ejected)

UII: LeBlanc— 89′

Whistle & Flags

REF: Kevin Broadley; AR1: Audra Fullen; AR2: Alexandru Focea; 4TH: Kenan Kapetanovic.

Stats

U II	Statistic	NYC	U II	Statistic	NYC
12	Shots	20	1	Offsides	2
6	Shots on goal	11	10	Goalkeeper Saves	5
6	Blocked shots	4	3	Clearances	4
270	Total Passes	525
70.7	Pass Accuracy %	86.3	16	Fouls	14
6	Corners	5	4	Yellow Cards	4
5	Total Crosses	6	1	Red Cards	0

Shootout

NYCFC II			Union II
Versus Rick		RND	Versus Learned
Flax	Goal	1	LeBlanc	Saved
Molinari	Saved	2	Gladstone	Miss
Suchecki	Goal	3	Sequera	Saved
Pierre	Miss	4	Uzcategui	Goal
Lopez	Miss	5	Moore	Miss