Watch: Paxten Aaronson double megs Orlando City for first Union goal of 2021

When the Philadelphia Union needed a preseason goal to remind themselves they could still score, 17-year-old Paxten Aaronson answered the call and possibly even showed up his big brother with a spectacular run and finish against Orlando City on Wednesday afternoon.

Though the real test will come in an official game whenever his debut does come, Aaronson continued the family tradition of megging goalkeepers with his finish as Brenden famously did against Brad Guzan in his MLS debut. But Paxten also megged a defender to put himself in position for the shot in the first place.

Perhaps all that time on the ball in the basement and in the backyard of their home in Medford, N.J. growing up has paid off.

The goal came after Orlando City had already built a three-goal lead and Aaronson was part of a lineup that at one point featured all nine homegrown field players on the field largely due to how many injuries and absences head coach Jim Curtin has had to shuffle in the preseason.

But just as he did with Union II last year and has pretty much since he was the smallest kid on the field playing up two age groups in his early days in the Union’s academy, the former Real Jersey FC playmaker knows how to create highlight-reel goals and leave defenders shaking their heads in the process.