Philadelphia Union II continued play in MLS NEXT Pro with a 3-2 win against FC Cincinnati 2 on Sunday night at Mercy Health Training Center. With the win, Union II are now tied for fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 26 points.
Midfielder Jesus Bueno would break the scoring seal for Philadelphia in the 24th minute of the match off of a corner kick, finding the back of the net with a close-ranged right footed shot to the bottom left of the goal. Just before the teams headed into the halftime break, Chris Donovan looked to double the Union lead with a header from the center of the box that was narrowly stopped by the diving Cincinnati keeper.
Philadelphia opened the second half in quick fashion, after forward Chris Donovan received a pass at the edge of the box from Bueno, quickly striking it to the bottom left corner of the goal and past the outstretched arms of the Cincinnati keeper in the 51st minute. Cincinnati would then respond in the 54th minute with Arquimides Ordonez sliding in a ball from the center of the box, he was assisted off a cross from Morgan Marshall.
The Union would regain their two goal lead shortly thereafter as Bueno claimed his first MLS Next Pro brace, collecting a pinpoint pass from Paxten Aaronson in the 57th minute and slotting it in the bottom right corner of the goal. Donovan sought his own brace but was denied in the 66th minute after a one-on-one situation ended with his shot being saved.
FC Cincinnati 2 would claim one final goal before the final whistle as Kai Thomas scored a header off a cross sent in by Harrison Robledo.
Union II will return home to face Inter Miami CF II at Subaru Park on Sunday, August 14th (6:00 p.m. ET / MLSNEXTPro.com).
