Two unnamed trialists appeared in yesterday’s scrimmage

With the exception of goalkeeper Tomas Romero, the Philadelphia Union’s entire 32-man preseason roster played in yesterday’s unstreamed scrimmage against the New York Red Bulls. Through a pair of highlight videos released over the past two days, it is now clear that two unnamed trialists also made it onto the field.

Though one of the trialists was briefly visible in a video released by the Red Bulls yesterday, the clearest and longest video of their involvement was posted on Instagram by the Union Academy earlier today.

Trialist #35 can be seen carrying the ball before assisting Brenden Aaronson’s magnificent equalizer. #35’s pass runs by #34, the second trialist. (The Union’s preseason roster is numbered 1-33, with every number filled aside from #10.)

The Union’s second goal in yesterday’s game was not initially attributed. One spectator said that #34 scored that one, but a Union representative later told SBI’s Joe Tansey that the goal belongs to Cory Burke (#19). The recap on the Union’s website does not name a scorer.

The starting attackers in the third period were, from left to right, Marcus Epps, Cory Burke, and Eric Ayuk. It appears that neither Epps nor Burke are on the field in this clip, meaning that the trialists were subbed on for those two at some point during the third period. The three starting midfielders, Aaronson, Anthony Fontana, and Omar Castro, are all on the field at this point. That suggests that one trialist, seemingly #35, is a winger, while the other, #34, is a striker.

The Union currently have 27 players on their active roster, meaning that they can sign four more, provided that one is loaned to Bethlehem Steel on a season-long basis.