Union II Grind Out Playoff Win Over Huntsville to Advance to Eastern Conference Final

Philadelphia Union II battled through a tough and physical match to defeat Huntsville City and book their spot in the Eastern Conference Final for the second consecutive season.

The game opened tightly, with Union II showing flashes of danger despite ceding most of the possession. Their best early look came in the 24th minute when a long-range strike rattled the crossbar, inches away from opening the scoring.

Sixteen-year-old attacking midfielder Willyam Ferreira earned a place in the starting lineup, while captain, Nick Pariano, was shifted into a fullback role as part of the tactical shuffle. Huntsville, fielding a noticeably older squad with several players in their mid-twenties, struggled to break through the youthful Union defense.

Neil Pierre anchored the backline brilliantly, using his strength and positioning to nullify Huntsville’s pacey wingers. He consistently forced attackers wide and trusted his teammates to cover central spaces, showing maturity well beyond his years.

The first half ended with Huntsville failing to register a single shot, a testament to the composure and defensive structure of the young Union II side.

The second half played out similarly to the first, with Huntsville dominating the possession stat yet failing to register any clear opportunities. On the counter, Union II finally found their breakthrough when CJ Olney slipped a perfectly weighted pass behind the defense for Stas Korzeniowski. The forward rounded the goalkeeper and was brought down, winning a penalty in the 67th minute. Korzeniowski stepped up himself and finished calmly from the spot to give Union the lead.

Late in the second half, Korzeniowski nearly doubled the advantage after another clever exchange with Olney, but a heavy touch spoiled what could have been the decisive goal. Still, the chemistry between the two has been exceptional throughout the playoffs.

Huntsville failed to put any real pressure on Union II throughout the match, even when it was time to throw everything they could at them. Despite being out possessed for long stretches, Union II never looked rattled. They absorbed pressure, stayed compact, and took their chances when it mattered most. The young side showed the resilience and discipline that has defined their season.

With the 1-0 win, Union II move on to the Eastern Conference Final once again. After last year’s impressive run, the question now is whether this talented group can go one step further and reclaim their place as the best in the East.