Philadelphia Union’s academy teams had a full slate of matches against development affiliate Continental FC. There were strong performances from many of the Union sides as they sought to build on excellent starts to the young season.
The Union U13s lost striker Dominic Wilson to an early injury but continued to push hard without the leader of their line. After building on good showings and adding new elements to their system in the early weeks of the season, the U13s did not play up to their full potential against a determined opponent. They will look to put together a more complete performance this weekend when they attend the Fall Regional Showcase in North Carolina and face off with NYCFC, North Carolina FC, Atlanta United, and Concorde Fire.
Marcelo Mazzola poured in four goals for the Union U14s in their match against Continental, wrapping up his scoring before the half-hour mark. The U14s will also travel south for the Fall Regional Showcase next weekend, and they will face Southern Soccer Academy, New England Revolution, and New York City FC.
The Union U15s were missing a few key players due to injuries but still engaged in a competitive back-and-forth match against their opponents. Two goals five minutes apart in the second half helped the team settle down as they looked to grow more cohesive following the hectic GA Cup at the start of October.
Attacker and US Youth International Patrick Bohui led the Union U17s against a solid Continental FC opponent. Bohui got on the board twice and helped the Union establish a lead so they could open up Continental and focus on retaining a solid defensive structure.
The U19s were also up for a difficult match and focused on winning the ball back high up the pitch. Once they established possessions that started near the opponent’s goal, Kevin Coleman’s side was clinical with their finishing. Along with the 15s and 17s, they now prepare for a huge matchup with New York Red Bulls at the Union’s Power Training Complex on November 3.
