The Philadelphia Union II faced off against FC Cincinnati 2 at Northern Kentucky University Stadium on Sunday evening, falling 2-1. Cincinnati began the scoring late in the first half of the game with a goal from midfielder Bret Halsey in the 41st minute. Cincinnati doubled the lead in the 58th minute with a shot from outside of the box by midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela. Union II cut the lead in half when forward Luciano Sanchez scored his first MLS NEXT Pro goal in the 73rd minute after midfielder CJ Olney threaded the ball through the defense with an assist.
Philadelphia Union II return home to battle Atlanta United 2 on Friday, June 9 (7:00 p.m. ET / MLSNextPro.com) at Subaru Park.
FC Cincinnati 2 (2) – Philadelphia Union II (1)
Northern Kentucky University Stadium (Highland Heights, KY)
Sunday, June 4, 2023
TODAY’S MATCH INFO
REF: Calin Radosav
AR1: Jacob Little
AR2: Eric Del Rosario
4TH: Austin Saini
Weather: 82 degrees and sunny.
GOALS/ASSISTS
CIN – Bret Halsey (Castellano) 41’
CIN – Gerardo Valenzuela (Marshall) 58’
PHI – Luciano Sanchez (Olney) 73’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
PHI – Hugo Le Guennec (caution) 22’
PHI – Hugo Le Guennec (second caution, ejection) 47’
PHI – David Vazquez (caution) 54’
CIN – Isaiah Foster (caution) 80’
LINEUP
Philadelphia Union II: Holden Trent, Juan Castillo, Gino Portella, Hugo Le Guennec, Anton Sorenson_ (Daniel Krueger 59’), Francis Westfield, Christopher Olney, Alex Perez (Maike Villero, 59’), David Vazquez (Boubacar Diallo 66’), Nelson Pierre (Luciano Sanchez 59’), Stefan Stojanovic (Jose Riasco 60’)_.
Substitutes not used: Brooks Thompson, Carlos Rojas, Nathan Nkanji, Pedro Álvarez.
FC Cincinnati 2: Evan Louro, Isaiah Foster, Joey Akpunonu, Malik Pinto (Matthew Dreas 45’), Morgan Marshall, Kai Thomas (David Garcia 68’), Gerardo Valenzuela, Salim Adams, Bret Halsey, Benjamin Stitz (Haroun Conteh 93’), Jesús Castellano (Ryder Mills, 60).
Substitutes not used: Owen Noverr, Hunter Morse, Khris Turcios, Nicholas McHenry
Team Notes
- Forward Luciano Sanchez scored his first MLS NEXT Pro goal.
- Midfielder CJ Olney earned his third MLS NEXT Pro assist.
Philadelphia Union II return home on Friday, June 9 (7:00 p.m. ET / MLSNextPro.com) where they play Atlanta United 2 at Subaru Park.
