Union II overpowered in the second half by Crown Legacy, fall 2-0 at home

CHESTER, PA – Two second half goals in the span of 10 minutes proved enough for Crown Legacy FC as they earned their ninth win of the season. Isaac Walker stood tall in goal for the visitors, especially in the second half, while Vinicius Mello and Patrick Agyemang found the back of the net.

Philadelphia Union II welcomed Crown Legacy to Subaru park on Wednesday night. Crown Legacy, the MLS Next Pro affiliate of Charlotte FC, came into the match with an 8-2-2 record and joint-top of the Eastern Conference with New England.

Union II welcomed Quinn Sullivan and Brandan Craig back into the lineup. Both performed well at the U-20 Men’s World Cup with the United States National Team. Craig impressed on the national stage with his distribution and composure from the center back position.

The first big chance of the night came in the 10th minute for Union II. Tight passing from Juan Castillo and Jeremy Rafanello led to a chance for Francis Westfield at the top of the box. His shot from 20-yards out sailed high and wide. 

Each side swapped half chances throughout the first half of play. The best chances of the half came for Union II in the waning minutes of the interval. CJ Olney had his shot from the left side of the box parried away by Walker. Just three minutes later, Jeremy Rafanello’s near-post flick was saved again by Walker following a dangerous cross by Quinn Sullivan.

The first half ended scoreless with Crown Legacy seeing the majority of the possession but conceding the better chances to Union II. Westfield picked up the only yellow card of the first half after a late tackle in the midfield. 

Both sides started the second half with a lot more energy. Crown Legacy were given a golden opportunity at the top of the box, but Hugo Le Guennec put in a crucial block on Mello’s shot. Minutes later, Union II countered through Quinn Sullivan on the left flank. His right footed cross labeled for CJ Olney was picked out of the air by Walker. 

With Union II beginning to dominate possession in the second half, it was Crown Legacy who struck first. In the 57th minute, Jacob Williams’ dinked cross was powered home by the head of Mello. Williams picked up his first assist of the season while Mello bagged his third goal of the campaign. 

Andrew Rick wasn’t called into action much until after Crown Legacy’s goal. In the 65th minute, Rick denied Jacob Williams at his near post to keep it a 1-0 game.

That scoreline wouldn’t hold up for long as the visitors found their second goal of the night less than 10 minutes after scoring their first. Patrick Agyemang fended off two Union II defenders and calmly slotted his shot past Rick on the breakaway. Agyemang scored his third goal in six matches for Crown Legacy. The 12th overall pick in this past year’s MLS SuperDraft scored his first MLS goal last weekend with a late equalizer for Charlotte against Seattle. 

Union II tried to respond quickly, but Walker was on his game tonight. In the 70th minute, Alex Perez had his shot saved by a diving Walker and in the 74th minute, Stefan Stojanovic was denied from the center of the box. 

Crown Legacy would park the bus to finish out the game. Walker would make two more saves on Sullivan and Boubacar Diallo to preserve the clean sheet and cap off a man of the match performance.

Union II had plenty of late chances to get back in the game, but after Nelson Pierre missed from 4 yards out, their luck had finally run out and they fell 2-0. 

Union II will be back home on Sunday to take on Chicago Fire II.

GOALS/ASSISTS:
CLT – Vinicius Mello (Williams) 57’
CLT – Patrick Agyemang (Mello) 65’

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:
PHI – Francis Westfield 38’
CLT – Erik Pena 68’

Philadelphia Union II Lineup:
Andrew Rick; Juan Castillo, Brandan Craig, Hugo Le Guennec, Anton Sorenson, C.J. Olney (Nelson Pierre 71’), Francis Westfield (Daniel Keueger 86’), Alex Perez (Boubacar Diallo 72’), Jeremy Rafanello (Stefan Stojanovic 72’), Quinn Sullivan, Chris Donovan (David Vazquez 76’)

Unused subs: Brooks Thompson, Carlos Rojas, Gino Portella, Luciano Sanchez

Crown Legacy Lineup:
Isaac Walker; Jack Neeley, Andrew Privett, Joao Pedro, Nick Scardina, David Poreba, Erik Pena (Aron John 71’), Jacob Williams (Ervin Cruz-Garcia 79’), Iuri Tavares (Marko Filipovic 71’), Patrick Agyemang, Vinicius Mello 

Unused subs: Gurman Sangha, Brian Romero, Russell Shealy, Brando Bedolla, Josue Rodrigues, James Nyandjo