Philadelphia Union II enters the final stretch of the regular season with much to play for as they host a potential playoff matchup on Monday afternoon against rivals New York City FC II. Don't miss the action from Subaru Park with coverage on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV starting at 4PM!
Monday's match is full of storylines with the more important for Union II being a berth into the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. Marlon LeBlanc's side came up inches short in their first attempt at clinching a third-straight berth into the postseason last weekend with a 3-2 road loss to Inter Miami CF II. Finding themselves down away from home, the youngest squad in the Eastern Conference rallied back with an equalizing goal from Frankie Westfield in the 68th minute. Miami scored twice but the Union kept battling with Eddy Davis scoring in stoppage time and Kyle Tucker's last second free kick connecting with Westfield for a towering header that just missed the back post.
Union II is looking to become just the second team to make the postseason in all three years of MLS NEXT Pro history with St. Louis CITY SC 2 having already secured their Western Conference spot. Along with a spot in the big dance, Union II is pushing for the No. 1 seed in in the East with just two points seperating the Boys in Blue from FC Cincinnati 2. The position in the table is critical in MLS NEXT Pro with the top four seeds in each conference getting to pick their opponent. Eight teams from each conference make the postseason with seeds No. 1-4 in each conference are guaranteed a home match and will select their opponent regardless of where they finished in the table. In the second round, the highest remaining seed in each conference will select an opponent from any of the remaining three teams.
Monday's opponent New York City FC II sits just four points behind Union II however their playoff fate is quite different because of how congested the East has been all season. NYCFC II finds itself in a four-way tie for fourth with 42 points and is just one point ahead of the No. 8 seed as well. With the stakes as high as ever, the battle on the pitch is expected to be tense as both sides look to sure up their spot in the table. The playoff like intensity was on display the last time the two sides battled in July with the young blues snapping Union II's unbeaten run with a late comeback. Academy graduate Eddy Davis III scored in the 23rd minute for Philly but with two minutes left the homeside finally broke through as Ruiz successfully won a duel inside the box and flicked it forward to the feet of Calheira who found himself 1v1 against Andrew Rick for the equalizer. With a penalty shootout looming, NYCFC II stung the hearts of the youthful Union and took all three points as Piero Elias shot a quick pass into the box for Jonathan Shore for the one time finish in the 92nd minute.
