Union II back to the top of the table after 2-0 win over Carolina Core

CJ Olney gave way to Nick Pariano on an early penalty kick and ended up getting a goal of his own late in the match to seal a 2-0 win for Philadelphia Union II over Carolina Core on Wednesday night in North Carolina.

In a game with bigger playoff implications for the hosts than for Union II, Carolina controlled much of the ball and the tempo but gave Union II an early gift conceding a third minute penalty. Pariano converted from the spot for his first Union II goal.

Carolina continued to control possession as they searched for an equalizer but the Union’s organization and Oliver Semmle in goal for his first Union II start thwarted them at every turn.

Carolina outshot U2 15-11, had a 15-3 advantage in crosses, had four corners to Union II’s zero, had more than double the number of passes (654-267) and a passing accuracy of 90.1 percent to Union II’s 72.7 percent but in the end the only stat that matters favored the first place Union II.

With the three points in hand, Union II are now back at the top of the Eastern Conference standings with four regular season games remaining.

Up next, Philadelphia Union II travel to Chase Stadium to face Inter Miami CF II on Sunday, September 15 (7 p.m. ET/ Apple TV).

GOALS/ASSISTS
PHI – Nick Pariano (PK) 3’
PHI – CJ Olney Jr. (Vazquez) 77’

LINEUP
Philadelphia Union II: Oliver Semmle; Frankie Westfield, Olwethu Makhanya, Gavin Wetzel, Jamir Berdecio; Nick Pariano (Jordan Griffin 81’), CJ Olney (Kyle Tucker 81’), David Vazquez, Kellan LeBlanc (Zachary Mastrodimos 64’); Markus Anderson (Sal Olivas 59’), Edward Davis (Jamir Johnson 59’).

Substitutes not used: Randy Meneses, Leandro Soria, Henry Bernstein, Alex Smith.

Carolina Core FC: Alexander Sutton; Jathan Juarez (Paul Leonardi 82’), Daniel Chica, Ibrahim Covi, Kai Thomas, Carlos Mario Diaz (Derek Cuevas 65’); Facundo Canete, Msunguchi Alenga Charles (Yekeson Subah 70’), Santiago Cambindo (Ozzie Ramos 82’), Jacob Alexander Evans; David Polanco (Joshua Rodriguez 70’).

Substitutes not used: Andrew Pannenberg, Jeremiah Jackson White IV, Juan Pablo Rodriguez, Luis Lugo.