Union U15s complete GA Cup friendlies unbeaten

A 2-0 win over D.C. United and a 1-1 draw with New York City FC completed the first edition of the Generation adidas Cup U15 friendlies over Presidents’ Day Weekend in Atlanta with the Philadelphia Union U15 team going unbeaten in five games.

The draw was perhaps more impressive than the win, considering the Union had to play down a man when goalkeeper Chay Kaplan was sent off with a red card in the first half. NYCFC converted the ensuing penalty kick to tie the game at one a piece but the Union defense kept them off the board the rest of the way to secure the draw (NYCFC won the penalty shootout that followed to earn an extra point).

“It was a good lesson for us as a team,” head coach Chris Brewer said. “It’s a little out of our comfort zone not having the ball as much and not being able to press without that 11th guy on the field.”

Selmir Miscic converted the lone goal in the NYCFC match from the spot and added a goal against D.C. United that gave him six in the competition to go with the 17 goals he’s scored in 11 appearances in league play.

Patrick Bohui, who made his debut for the Union U15s in the GA Cup matches in October, added his fourth goal of the competition in the D.C. United match. He has nine goals in just six league games this season.

Brewer said both Miscic and Bohui have a hunger to score and have done so with great consistency this season, netting a combined 36 goals in all competitions. It helps to have a playmaker like Paxten Aaronson and two-way midfielder Nick Pariano in the team spearheading the attack.

“There were good passes that put them in good positions,” Brewer said. “When as a collective the team performs at a consistent level it just falls upon them to finish the product.”

On the defensive side of things, goalkeeper Jason Grandizio deserves credit for coming into a tough situation in the NYCFC game and keeping a clean sheet the rest of the way in that game and for the duration of the match against D.C. United two days later.

In the end, the Union finished with 11 points from three wins and a pair of draws in the five games and head back into Development Academy play with some momentum they hope to capitalize on Saturday at noon against rival Continental FC at The Proving Grounds in Conshohocken.