Union II vs. NYCFC II - July 26th, Match Report

Philadelphia Union II started the match against NYCFC II in their typical 4-4-2 / 4-2-2-2, but with quite a few personnel changes. Stas Korzeniowski came into the fold today with the absence of Cavan Sullivan. Another notable change included defender Isaiah LeFlore moving into a central role, with Neil Pierre dropping out of the matchday roster.

Union II took the lead in the 60th minute thanks to a scrappy goal from Markus Anderson. The goal was much deserved after numerous missed opportunities in the first. Regardless of the missed chances, Union II maintained its hunger and finally found the breakthrough. The match was extremely one-sided, with Philadelphia winning all the important statistics. Despite posing a few threats on the counter, NYCFC II was never able to find its equalizer, and Philadelphia was able to comfortably see out the match.

The chaos of Union II's playstyle was eventually replaced with composure, with the away side knocking the ball around and lulling NYCFC II to sleep.

The final blow came in the 82nd minute with Malik Jakupovic bagging his 6th goal in his first 5 professional matches. The 16-year-old has been a weapon for Philadelphia, always knowing how to find the back of the net. His poaching ability is the reason he is now the Union II top scorer.

Where was Cavan Sullivan?

Cavan Sullivan was not rostered against NYCFC II due to his visit to Manchester, where he played with Manchester City’s youth academy and Under 21s. The effort to integrate Sullivan into the City Football system comes with his future move to the club when he turns 18. During his visit, Sullivan scored a goal for the U21s against Buxton. Manchester City values his talents and is looking to keep him involved within the youth system despite being rostered for the Philadelphia Union. Being that he is still only 15, we can expect to see more visits like this in the future.

Is Markus Anderson more than just a poacher?

Once again, Markus Anderson was deployed wide left in more of a playmaking role as opposed to leading the line. His skill set is more suited to goalscoring, with his strongest assets being his pace and poaching.

What we get visually with Anderson vs. the true attacking output he provides is drastically different, but, being that he sees minutes for the first team, this is understandable. The senior team won’t wow you with their passing, dribbling, or touches. They are a well-oiled machine that can win games with subpar technical players, and they don’t ever hide from that. Anderson is no exception to this.

Frequently in the first half vs. NYCFC II, Anderson scrapped, hustled, sprinted, and battled his way to goal-scoring opportunities for Union II. He was unlucky not to come away with an assist or two early on.

He was rewarded for his efforts in the second half, where he tapped away a loose ball from a corner. His efforts also earned him the man of the match.

Final Verdict: While Anderson doesn’t fit the traditional playmaking midfielder role, his effectiveness out wide is thanks to the system he plays in. Does it look pretty? No. Can it work? Yes. This style is very common within the Union senior team, with attackers like Damiani and Baribo becoming bruisers who can also finish the ball from close range.

Key Takeaways From the Match:

• LeFlore’s double yellow stains his perfect defensive match.

• The pathway from Union II to the senior team is very clear, with both teams playing the same way. This makes the transition from MLS NEXT Pro to MLS very easy for youngsters.

• Nick Pariano is a cool head in the middle who often looks beyond his years. His composure is much needed to balance the speed of the Union II playstyle.

With the win against NYCFC II, Union II is tied at the top of the table. Wednesday, July 30th, presents a great opportunity for Philadelphia Union II to go top and hold their momentum as they will play against Carolina Core. Sitting in 12th place, Carolina has struggled to find form, boasting only 3 wins on the season.