Philadelphia Union II will be back at home this weekend for a Sunday night showdown against New England Revolution II and there are playoff implications on the line for both teams. Tune in for free on MLS NEXT Pro’s official site to watch the action!
As the regular season winds down with just five matches remaining, Union II’s push for a playoff spot is underway and a win could boost their point total back into contention. Head Coach Marlon LeBlanc’s Union II squad is two points below the playoff line, sitting at 8th place behind Huntsville City FC after losing to the Alabama side last week on the road.
Their upcoming match likely won’t be an easy one, as New England Revolution II has been a MLS NEXT Pro powerhouse this season. They’ve impressed with a 12-5-7 record that places them second in the Eastern Conference Standings. With 48 points, they’ve already clinched a spot in the playoffs and they’re not far from chasing down Crown Legacy F.C., who sits atop the standings in first with 53. If they can surpass the Charlotte side, they’ll claim a first round bye which is an unrivaled advantage in postseason play. With incentive for both teams riding on the outcome, the match is set to be a contentious one.
One key to a Philadelphia victory is shutting down Jordan Adebayo-Smith, New England’s 22-year-old forward who has played in all but one of their games so far. He’s tallied a team-leading 12 goals and four assists through that span. His attack is near constant – he’s taken 67 shots this season, which is almost triple the number of teammate Esmir Bajraktarevic, who sits at second in the team’s goal leaderboard with six.
Against Huntsville City F.C., LeBlanc trotted out a few new faces, giving Philadelphia Union Academy products defender Neil Pierre and forward Eddy Davis their first pro starts. Another Academy player in Sal Olivas had a milestone night as well, earning his first pro minutes. Though the game didn’t unfold in favor of Union II, instead finishing in a 5-2 loss, it gave budding young talent a chance to find their footing on the pro level.
Philadelphia Union II will attempt to snap New England Revolution II’s nine game streak without a loss on Sunday night at Subaru Park – tune in for free on MLS NEXT Pro’s official site!
