Union II keeps unbeaten run going with thrashing of Atlanta United 2

Chris Donovan had a brace and Kyle Tucker and CJ Olney both scored on free kicks to lead Philadelphia Union II to a convincing 5-0 win over Atlanta United 2 on Monday night.

With the win, Union II improved to 3-2-0 on the season and stretched the combined unbeaten run to start the regular season for the first and second team to 12.

Making his first Union II start of the season, Donovan was joined by fellow first team players Markus Anderson, Olwethu Makhanya, Jamir Berdecio, Sanders Ngabo and Nick Pariano in one of the strongest lineups the team has fielded this season. Donovan wasted little time putting his stamp on the game, heading home a David Vazquez cross in the 18th minute.

The score would hold until halftime with the real fireworks of the evening to come in the second half. Eddy Davis III came off the bench to double the lead when he collected a ball headed down from Donovan in the box fired it at the keeper and headed in the rebound. The goal was the third of the campaign for Davis who has been a disruptive force in the box and a pest to goalkeepers in the early going in the season.

CJ Olney added to the lead five minutes later with the first of two free kick goals scored just outside the 18. Olney’s hammered curler added insult to injury to Atlanta United 2 keeper John Berner’s less than stellar night. But the damage was still not done.

Vazquez found a streaking Donovan near the middle of the field in the 65th minute and Donovan’s pace got him into a 1v1 with Berner the Uni0n forward would score on from a shot from the 18 deflected in by Berner.

Already up 4-0 on a demoralized Atlanta United 2 squad, Donovan’s former Drexel and West Chester United teammate Kyle Tucker made sure there was one last exclamation point on the proceedings at Kennesaw State University. Tucker’s curling effort a few yards to the left of where Olney converted and slight closer to the 18 was the first of Tucker’s professional career and capped an exciting 5-0 win.

The win also sets up an early season 1v2 match-up in the Eastern Conference with first place New York Red Bulls coming to town on Sunday afternoon for a 3 p.m. kickoff against Union II at Subaru Park.

LINEUPS

Philadelphia Union II: Andrew Rick; Frank Westfield, Carlos Rojas, Olwethu Makhanya, Jamir Berdecio (Gavin Wetzel 69’); Sanders Ngabo (Neil Pierre 87’), CJ Olney, Nick Pariano (Giovanny Sequera 69’), David Vazquez (Kyle Tucker 69’); Chris Donovan, Markus Anderson (Edward Davis 46’) .        

Substitutes not used: Mike Sheridan; Sal Olivas, Ryan Zellefrow.  

Atlanta United FC 2: John Berner; Matthew Edwards, Kaiden Moore (Jacob Williams 64’), Efrain Morales, Ronald Hernandez, Noble Okello, Javier Armas, Matias Gallardo, Alan Carleton (Erik Centeno 54’), Luke Brennan (Stephen Hurlock 79), Matthew Dejianne (Karim Tmimi 54’).              

Substitutes not used: Jayden Hibbert; Shawn Lanza, Miles Hadley, Pavel Romero.