Philadelphia Union II stay unbeaten with 3-0 win over Columbus

Goals from forwards Sal Olivas and Eddy Davis and a first professional goal for academy player Jamir Johnson kept Philadelphia Union II unbeaten on the season with a 3-0 victory over Columbus Crew 2 at Subaru Park on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts opened the scoring in the 18th minute on a quick restart on Crew 2’s half of the field. Isaiah LeFlore went quickly with his throw-in, unleashed a strike to Olivas, who ran onto the ball capped off the play with a clinical strike to the keeper’s left to make it 1-0.

Crew 2 had a big chance to equalize two minutes later but Oliver Semmle did well to come off his line and cut down the angle and block the shot out of danger.

A mistake from Crew 2’s last defender back on a deflected ball gifted Eddy Davis the ball on a breakaway, which he calmly put into the net for his first goal of the season to double the lead in the 55th minute. And Union II still wasn’t finished with Henry Bernstein – making his first start – heading a corner toward goal Stanislav Lapkes was able to save off the line in the 63rd minute and Nick Pariano setting up a Marcus Anderson header that rang off the post four minutes later.

The third goal would come courtesy of Johnson shortly after subbing in, set up by some pinpoint passing from Stas Korzeniowski, who found Marcus Anderson in the box, and a clever touch from Anderson to get the ball to Johnson streaking toward goal in the 83rd minute.

With the win, Union II improved to 3-0-4 on the season and are in fourth place in the conference on 15 points. six back of first place Chattanooga.

LINEUP
Philadelphia Union II: Oliver Semmle; Isaiah LeFlore, Rafael Uzcátegui, Gavin Wetzel, Nick Pariano (Jordan Griffin 78’); CJ Olney, Henry Bernstein, David Vazquez (Markus Anderson 63’), Cavan Sullivan (Kellan LeBlanc 46’); Eddy Davis (Jamir Johnson 78’), Sal Olivas (Stas Korzeniowski 63’).

Substitutes not used: Michael Sheridan, Ramzi Qawasmy, Leandro Soria, Óscar Benítez.