Philadelphia Union Academy racked up five wins over the course of another double-header weekend in MLS NEXT action.
A Saturday Undefeated Goal Fest
The U17s kicked off the day with a 10-0 thrashing on Sporting Athletic at the Widener University Turf Fields at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex. A hat trick from Diego Rocio along with goals from Kellan LeBlanc, Zach Greer, Anisse Saidi, Jamir Johnson, Luca Mazolla, and Lamonte King helped the Baby Snakes dominate the game. The team showed out in the second half, scoring seven of the 10 after the 50th minute. The defense kept the opposition quiet while supporting the attack to keep momentum and confidence strong throughout the entire 90.
The U16s took to the field with a 2-1 comeback win over the Delaware side. Two very late goals by Jordan Griffin in the 86th minute followed by a Gabriel Wesseh 93rd minute winner secured all three points for the Baby Snakes. Despite dominating for most of the game, Head Coach Guillermo Hamdan Zaragoza’s side kept their composure to fight back from trailing early to taking a hard-fought win to build confidence as they set their sights on the upcoming game against TSF.
The U15s secured the win with a dominant 5-0 win. Malik Jukopvic secured a hat trick while Samuel Gallego and Timoni Gbalajobi also added their names to the score sheet. Declan Lannon, Jason Hunt, and Willyam Ferreira also had strong games as the team limited the opportunities for Sporting Athletic. The Baby Snakes had full control of the game and showed confidence as they kept the opposition limited to their own half for most of the game.
The U14s displayed their class as they took all three points with a 6-1 win over Sporting. A hattrick from Timoni Gbalajobi, along with goals from Liam Holtzman, Jayden Kouadio, and Collin Fulham highlighted the strong efforts made by the attack. Sean Corbet, Isaac Sparling, and Chris Thompson also had strong games as the Baby Snakes took control of the game. The defense also flexed its strength winning back the ball every time they were called upon. The team looks to take this confidence into next weekend, as they begin to prepare for a showdown with DC United.
The U13s wrapped up a goal-filled Saturday with a 2-1 win over Sporting Athletic. Goals from Samuel Mendesand Evan Roberts helped the team walk away with the victory. Sully Palazzari, Tyler Anderson, Jaxson Fulmer, and Mateo Rosko also had great games as the Baby Snakes keep improving. Head Coach Willy Topp praised his team for playing physical and taking more chances against a team's strong backline and hopes to continue this form into the next game against TSF.
Mixed Results Against the Revs
The U17s took to the field against the New England Revolution on Sunday with a hard-fought 1-1 draw. The only goal for the Baby Snakes came from Diego Rocio following the second-half kick-off in the 46th minute. Despite going behind early, the team fought hard and dominated in possession. While the result wasn’t as expected, the team kept the energy and confidence high as they searched for the winner and took control of the second half. The squad looks to get back on track as they prepare to take on DC United at the weekend.
The U15s took to the field on Sunday as they succumbed to the Revs, 3-1. Malik Jukopvic scored the only goal for the Union. Despite the loss, Willyam Ferreira, Declan Lannon, and Keegan Quenneville all had strong games. The Baby Snakes created a lot of chances throughout the match to contest with the opposition. The Union side kept the energy high throughout the match as they looked to add more than the one goal.
The Baby Snakes look to bounce back quickly, as they get ready to take on DC United on Saturday.
