Union II Drop Points For the Second Match In a Row

Credit: MLS NEXT Pro

Chicago Fire II 2 - 0 Philadelphia Union II

Philadelphia Union II came into this match with the best defensive record in the league, while Chicago Fire II held the tag of most dangerous attack. It was set up as strength against strength, but for the second straight outing, Union II walked away frustrated after falling 2-0 despite generating the majority of clear chances.

Chicago broke through in the 81st minute when David Tchétchao Karo finished off a scrappy play, and then just five minutes later, Claudio Cassano doubled the lead and put the game out of reach. Union II had 21 shots compared to Chicago’s 10, of which 8 tested the goalkeeper.

A Tale of Composure in the Final Third

Union II showed pace and aggression once again, but lacked the decision-making that turns a good attack into goals. Getting into dangerous areas was never the problem. Making the right pass or taking the clean first touch was. Against Chicago, Union II was outpossessed 61 to 39, yet they produced over twice as many shots. The volume was there, but the quality was not.

This is where the difference between effort and execution becomes most clear. Sometimes the simplest choice is the most effective, and at just 15 years old, Cavan Sullivan has shown he understands that better than many of his older teammates. His vision and composure to play the final ball have stood out in moments when Union II needed a calm head. His absence has been missed in the squad, and the one-dimensional attacking ability is hurting them.

Until more players match that ability to slow the game down and pick the right option, Union II will continue to fall on the wrong side of results like this one.

Rotation and Response

Union II made several changes to the lineup with fixture congestion starting to pile up, and it showed in stretches of the first half. The group looked sharper after the hour mark when the bench was called upon. Malik Jakupovic, Eddy Davis III, and others injected energy, and suddenly, Union II were playing with more urgency in the final third. For a period, it felt like the breakthrough was coming, but despite the improvement, the finishing touch remained out of reach.

Who’s Next in the Pipeline?

The Union’s second team has always been framed as a pathway to the first team, producing names like Jack McGlynn, Nathan Harriel, and Brenden Aaronson. Each of them stood out in their time with the second team, showing traits that translated quickly when given MLS minutes. Looking at the current group, the picture is less clear. Nick Pariano is the only player right now who consistently looks capable of handling the professional level. He has the maturity and technical base to step up, while many of the attacking options, for example, still lack the sharpness needed, even in a first team where technical quality has never been the ultimate standard.

If the pipeline is going to remain as reliable as in past years, this class needs to start producing more players who bring that extra dimension, just like McGlynn made impossible to ignore.

That’s why the recent departure of David Vázquez raises eyebrows. Since leaving, he has already seen minutes with San Diego FC’s first team, which only sharpens the question of what the Union is prioritizing in their developmental model. On multiple occasions, the club has turned away technical players, and it feels even more puzzling now, given Union II’s current issues in the final third. Composure and decision-making around the box are exactly what’s missing. Wouldn’t a player with Vázquez’s profile be useful in solving that problem?

What It Means

The loss brings Chicago within one point of Union II’s second-place spot in the table, tightening an already competitive top end of the conference. For Union II, the defense is still a foundation to build on, but rediscovering composure in front of the goal is what will decide whether they stay near the top.

Union II will play their next match at home vs Toronto II on Wednesday, August 20th at 7:00 PM.