Union II is back on the road this weekend to play Huntsville City FC on Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium in Alabama. The game will kick off at 8pm on Saturday night – tune in on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV to watch the action!
Head Coach Marlon LeBlanc has led his squad to an exceptional summer thus far, taking results in all but one contest since June 28. The team currently holds a 9-9-4 record with 33 points, including five wins on the road. Their Alabama-based opponent sits one spot below them in the standings after a similarly successful slate of games with just two losses in that same span.
Huntsville City’s leading scorer, 25-year-old Azaad Liadi, has compiled four goals since the start of July, solidifying his spot at the top with eight total in just 16 games played. Another player to watch is their newly signed Jamaican midfielder Christopher Pearson, who’s on loan from FC Tulsa of the USL Championship through the 2023 season. Though it’s unknown if he’ll be added to the mix on Saturday, his presence could add another offensive threat to their lineup. In the club’s first MLS NEXT Pro season, Huntsville City has held their ground in the middle of the Eastern Conference pack. Saturday’s game will not only be a regular season test, but a chance for the Boys in Blue to scout a team they’ll play again in their second-to-last match of the regular season on September 17th, when playoff contention could be on the line.
The Philadelphia Union side enters the game with a chip on their shoulder following a hard-fought 2-1 loss against FC Cincinnati 2. Forward Stefan Stojanovic, who captained the squad that night, shined with an early 17th minute goal that marked his eighth of the year.
Winning is essential for the Boys in Blue going forward if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. The top seven teams in the conference earn a postseason berth, and Union II is presently hovering the line. Chicago Fire II is four points above them with 37 points and 24 games played, meaning Union II could chase them in the standings as they’ve only played 22 contests so far.
