Philadelphia Union II secured its spot in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs in thrilling fashion, overcoming a two-goal deficit to defeat New York City FC II by a 4-3 margin on Monday night at Subaru Park.
Markus Anderson opened the scoring early for Union II with an 11th minute finish set up by CJ Olney but the opposition responded with a trio of first half goals to grab a 3-1 lead just past the half hour mark. The youngest side in MLS NEXT Pro kept battling with Nick Pariano cutting the deficit in half right before the break with a finish from the penalty spot. The Boys in Blue kept the momentum with a dominant display in the second half as Eddy Davis III scored his 13th goal of the regular season to knot the contest up at 3-3. A free kick service from 14-year-old Cavan Sullivan to team captain Frankie Westfield proved the difference with the duo combining on a historic goal in the 64th minute.
With the home win, Union II not only secured its third-consecutive trip to the postseason but knows it will host a playoff match for the first time in team history as a top four seed.
Playing 24 hours after the first team allowed Head Coach Marlon LeBlanc to select his first choice lineup with seven players signed to MLS contracts in the first XI including homegrown goalkeeper Andrew Rick fresh off a seven-save performance at New York City FC. Neil Pierre was back in the lineup too paired up alongside Olwethu Makhanya while Frankie Westfield and Gavin Wetzel added defensive width. The midfield diamond was filled with homegrowns as Nick Pariano, CJ Olney, David Vazquez and Cavan Sullivan sought to bring the match at the young Cityzens on their home turf. The front line saw lots of pace and finishing ability as Eddy Davis III and Markus Anderson combined for a difficult matchup atop the lineup.
The sixth minute saw the first attacking chance for the Boys in Blue with Pierre hitting a perfectly weighted pass to bypass the midfield and put the ball at the boots of Anderson. The forward quickly pushed into the attack and uncorked a right footed blast from 30 yards out that required a leaping stop of at full extension to deny the opening goal.
It was just a warning shot as the Boys in Blue capitalized with a direct attack five minutes later on the boot of Anderson. Forcing a turnover just past the midfield stripe, Sullivan quickly pushed the Union offense forward with a 5 on 3 counter attack. The 14-year-old shot a pass out wide to CJ Olney on the flank who then ripped a centering pass to the top of the box where Anderson hit it in stride for the perfect finish.
Philly nearly doubled its lead in the 13th minute as Sullivan cut centerally and hit a curler toward the far post only to be denied by goalkeeper Alex Rando.
The visitors grew into the match after the stop and found the tying goal in the 21st minute through their leading goalscorer Taylor Calheira. Attacking up the left side, the cross was deflected by Wetzel that significally altered the ball's speed and direction. Calheira pounced on the low cross to beat Rick down low.
Momentum continued to grow for New York City FC II as they grabbed the lead seven minutes later on another opportunistic finish in front of net. Maximo Carrizo cut inside and blasted a shot on frame that forced a diving stop by 18-year-old Andrew Rick. The ball fell right to Jonthan Jimenez who deposited the rebound into net to establish a 2-1 lead for NYCFCII.
Four minutes later the deficit grew to two for Union II as Drew Baiera won a 50-50 ball inside the box to maintain possession for the road team. The ball quickly shuffled along side the box before Piero Elias hit a soft leading pass to Jonathan Shore for the far post finish.
The youthful Union II kept pushing and their direct style presented the backline trouble with the pace from Anderson and Davis. That pace brought Union II into the match with a long ball over the top sending Davis into a 1v1 foot race with center back Rio Hope-Gund. Davis raced to his left and went for his signature cutback to his right but was taken down in the box with the referee quickly pointing to the spot. Nick Pariano stepped up to take the penalty and again converted for the second time in three matches to trim the deficit in half going into the break.
Like they've done all season, Union II came out the break looking to turn up the pressure on their opposition. That approach has paid dividends in the past both physically and mentally and it did once again in the Union's favor. In the 52nd minute the equalizer came for the Boys in Blue as Davis intercepted a soft pass from Hope-Gund and quickly scored in the 1v1 chance against the keeper.
With the match level at 3-3, the Boys in Blue nearly got their fourh a few minutes later as the NYCFC defender again made a mistake at the back. That led to a 2on1 breakaway between Anderson and Davis with the Union forward racing into the box on the right side. With the defense racing back in stride, Anderson cut it back to the trailing Sullivan at the top of the 18 for the one timer. Instead the homegrown midfielder played the selfless pass to his left for a shot from Davis who was denied the brace by the keeper.
With the match fully in Union II's favor, it felt like it was only a matter of time when the comeback story was fully complete. That moment came in the 64th minute as Sullivan served in a perfectly weighted free kick chance that connected with a flying header from team captain Frankie Westfield.
With a one-goal lead and a potential playoff securing result on the line, Head Coach Marlon LeBlanc turned to fresh legs in the 69th minute sending in Sal Olivas and Giovanny Sequera. Five after the substitutes took to the pitch it was Olivas with an opportunity to ice the match but his counter attacking chance was turned aside by anothe diving stop by the keeper.
With time running out and chances to equalize few and far between, New York nearly got their fourth of the night on a quick cross from Jonathan Shore to a diving effort from Ronald Arevalo. but it went wide of a diving Rick.
