Philadelphia Union II continued play in MLS NEXT Pro with a 3-1 win over New England Revolution II on Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. With the win, Union II secure a spot in the 2022 MLS Next Pro Playoffs and finished the regular season in third place in the Eastern Conference with 40 points.
Philadelphia opened the scoring early, when in the 12th minute, Homegrown defender Matt Real corralled the ball off a corner kick directly in front of goal, slotting a shot just past the New England keeper to put the Union II up 1-0.
In the 17th minute, Union II goalkeeper Matt Freese was faced with a one-on-one situation, making two difficult saves to keep Philadelphia ahead. Moments later Philadelphia would double their lead as a cross was played into the box which got caught and dropped by the New England keeper allowing forward Jeremy Rafanello to rush into the box and claim his first career MLS NEXT Pro goal.
The Union II netted their third goal of the first half when in the 37th minute Chris Donovan took a powerful right footed strike that found its way to the bottom left corner of the net, he was assisted by Jeremy Rafanello.
In the 42nd minute of the match, Philadelphia conceded a penalty with New England’s Weverton stepping up to the spot, sending a shot to the far left of the goal which was saved by Freese. Weverton would find the rebound and send a shot up the middle of the goal but Feese would stretch out his leg to make a second save and maintain the clean sheet heading into the break.
In the second half, New England would claim a goal in the 79th as forward Ryan Lima would take a powerful left footed strike from the top of the box, sending it to the top right corner of the goal.
Union II will travel to take on Toronto FC II in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Date and time to be announced in the near future.
