Union II bounce back from first loss with complete performance at FC Cincinnati 2

Tuesday night’s match allowed for a thin Philadelphia Union II squad to return to form after their first loss of the season with a resounding 4-1 win. Eddy Davis, Markus Anderson, Giovanny Sequera, and debutant Malik Jakupovic tallied goals, while the league-best defense stifled a team that has consistently struggled with scoring this season.

The ongoing international window left Union II down many significant players; Sal Olivas, David Vazquez, CJ Olney, Andrew Rick (USA U-19), Cavan Sullivan, and Jamir Johnson (USA U-17) were all away on international duty.

The opening goal came in the 13th minute of the game due to sustained pressure on the Cincinnati II back line; 16-year-old left back Jordan Griffin slipped in a pass to Eddy Davis, who took a clean first touch and beat two defenders before calmly finishing on his left foot. While much of the work was done by Davis, this marked Griffin’s first career assist.

The second goal came as a result of a high press, as Cincinnati turned over the ball just outside the box in the 25th minute. Leandro Soria, making his first start of the season, made the interception and played Markus Anderson in behind. Cincinnati keeper Paul Walters made the initial save, but the ball looped over his head for Anderson to head home on the goal line.

Soria continued to cause issues for the Cincinnati II defense as he had a header go off the bar just before halftime, sending another shot just wide left on the rebound. It was all one-way traffic at halftime.

Cincinnati brought more intensity on the other side of halftime. A smooth build up resulted in a cross from Dilan Hurtado that took a deflection, leaving Union II goalkeeper Mike Sheridan wrong-footed. The ball fell in the box and was swept home by Carson Locker.

Union II began to control the game again after the Cincinnati goal, and cashed in their third goal in the 85th minute when Markus Anderson pounced on a loose touch and found Giovanny Sequera on the edge of the box, sweeping home a clean finish into the bottom corner.

The debutant Malik Jakupovic, wearing the No. 51 shirt, made his mark on the game with the last touch deep into stoppage time. The Union midfield won the ball and sprung Sequera into a counter attack, who played Anderson in on goal. He unselfishly squared the chance to Jakupovic, sweeping his first goal into an empty net.

The win – a first for Union II since August 2022 – allowed Union II to move up to 4th in the Eastern Conference with a 4-4-1 record, with games in hand on every team currently above them. The team will have plenty of time to rest before they return home to Subaru Park on June 15 to play Crown Legacy FC.

LINEUP
Mike Sheridan; Jordan Griffin, Rafael Uzcátegui, Gavin Wetzel, Isaiah Leflore (Óscar Benitez 71’); Markus Anderson, Henry Bernstein, Nick Pariano, Kellan LeBlanc (Giovanny Sequera 66’); Eddy Davis, Leandro Soria (Malik Jakupovic 71’)

Unused Subs: Daniel Elliott, Stas Korzeniowski