Following a scoreless 90-minute match, Philadelphia Union II found victory through a penalty shootout against Huntsville FC at Subaru Park, Philadelphia. The win leaves Union just a point shy of the top 8 in the Eastern Conference of the MLS Next Pro league.
First Half
The match began with Union holding the majority of the ball and chances. Matheus De Paula of Union was able to create multiple crossing opportunities from right back with one of them finding Eddy Davis’s head that unfortunately went over the bar.
Union continued with the pressure, and a few aggressive challenges caused a bit of frustration for Huntsville. After drawing his second foul of the game, Giovanni Sequera set the ball for Kellan LeBlanc off a free kick that was whipped into Malik Jakupovic who couldn’t keep his header on target.
Sequera continued to terrorize the Huntsville defenders as his intelligent dribbling saw him beat both players off the right-hand side and find a ball into the box that was eventually cleared out by Huntsville.
Chances continued for Union but more importantly the solidity of their backline structure prevented Huntsville from finding any serious attacking opportunities barring a cross that Gabriel Alonso headed wide of the far post.
Towards the end of the half a great combination between De Paula and Davis slipped Sequera behind who crossed it low and hard into Jakupovic who nearly scored off a first time shot.
Second Half
At halftime union subbed Andrew Craig for Finn Sundstrom. Craig gets his last game with Philadelphia Union before he leaves for college to play division one soccer at Michigan University.
Following a slow start to the half, Huntsville finds a chance as Nick Pariano receives the ball outside the box and curls a left footed shot that nearly finds its way on target. Shortly after, Aiden Jarvis tests his luck from outside the box, but a great save from Union keeper George Marks sees it out for a corner.
Union gets an opportunity of their own as Craig plays an excellent long ball to De Paula who brings it down brilliantly with his chest and crosses it to Jakupovic who fails to keep his shot on target.
After a great bit of defending from Craig, De Paula is found again on the right flank, and he continues with his consistent chance creation as another great cross finds Jakupovic in the box who keeps his shot on target but a great save from Huntsville keeper Xavier Valdez prevents Union from grabbing the opener.
Following a few crossing opportunities from both teams that could not manage any serious threat, the full 90 minutes ends, and the winner is decided through a penalty shootout.
Penalty Shootout
The shootout ended 5-4 to Union after a great save from George Marks to deny Aiden Jarvis. Andrew Craig scored the winning penalty, acting as a great send off for the Center back before his new journey begins in Michigan.
written by Jack Hollida
photos by Tolu Oliwo
Leave a Reply