Philadelphia Union’s academy continued to roll over its competition as they pitched a shutout across four games on Saturday.
The U17s rode a brace from Luca Mazzola to a 4-0 victory. The defending provided a foundation for success by controlling counterattacks with aggressive, tight spacing. This forced the opponent to push numbers into these attacks and allowed the Union to break through after the first half hour. Stunning attacking play put the match to bed early in the second half.
The U15s hit another gear with Cavan Sullivan and Anisse Saidi pairing up to score four goals in a 6-0 win. Attacking transitions were a focus for the 15s and they won the ball high and quickly nipped in behind the retreating defense to score. Andrei Chirila, Peyton Presson, and Matteo Zambrano put in strong performances to help the team stay in control from start to finish.
Phil Karn’s U14 side displayed wonderful aggression in a 3-0 win that showcased their ability to play vertically even against an opponent looking to compress space. They played forward quickly after regaining the ball and Declan Lannon finished well. Willyam Ferreira was a creative force in the center, supported by Max Karl and Luke Reedy. Jason Hunt’s width was also a big asset, creating the width that opened up chances close to goal.
The U13s displayed admirable match control in another 3-0 Union win.After moving the ball side-to-side in the first half and creating chances but failing to convert, they added another dimension to the attack in the latter stages of the match, dropping the ball deep to pull their opponent out before attacking space left behind. Micah Casey, Timoni Gbalajobi, and Colin Fulham got on the scoresheet.
Friendlies are on the schedule in the coming weeks for the U15s and U17s, then a big matchup on the road at Nashville SC looms the weekend of October. The U13s and U14s face off with TSF Academy on October 15 then turn around and play Real Jersey on October 16. The U12s face Lower Merion SC on October 15.
Follow the Union Academy on Twitter at @phlunionacademy.
