Philadelphia Union
Union II draw on Decision Day, miss playoffs
Philadelphia Union II needed a win for a playoff spot on Sunday afternoon but could only muster a 1-1 draw against NYCFC II at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex. Despite a penalty kick save by Andrew Rick, the only offense that the team could muster was a free kick goal by Kellan LeBlanc. A draw was not enough to advance to the 2026 MLS Next Pro Playoffs, and their season is now over.
Decision Day fell on a damp and rainy Sunday in Chester. Union II found themselves in an unfamiliar position. Having qualified for the MLS Next Pro Playoffs every season since joining the league in 2022, constant changes in the coaching staff and roster have led to 2026 being an unusually challenging season. Union II were on the outside looking in before Decision Day, outside of the playoff places in 10 th and in need of a win to propel the team into the postseason.
Their opponents, NYCFC II, were in 6th place, looking for a result to confirm their spot in the playoffs. The first half was tense. With the emotions of a knockout game, both teams played cautiously at the start out of fear of making a season-ending mistake. Andrew Rick was in net for Union II, staying back in Chester to play in a must-win game for the reserves while the first team traveled to Kansas City on Saturday. Rick made a great save on a breakaway in the 20th minute, denying NYCFC’s highly touted Maximo Carrizo who was through on goal.
NYCFC II found a breakthrough before half. Young fullback Adonis Campos carried the ball forward and squared across the face of Rick’s goal to Drew Kerr, who was free at the back post. Kerr fired the cross in for the opening goal just before the break. It was a bad time to concede for Union II, who were growing into the game.
Union II found a lifeline on the other side of halftime. NYCFC’s Peter Molinari was called for a foul just outside the box. Kellan LeBlanc stood over the free kick, and Union II players formed a wall to the left of the NYCFC II wall to block the sight of the goalkeeper. LeBlanc’s free kick was extraordinary, a thunderous shot that flew into the top left corner, knotting the score at 1-1.
Union II continued to fight for a winner, but it took a turn for the worse in the last ten minutes.
With an NYCFC player through on goal, Geiner Martinez took an obvious foul, warranting a penalty kick and a second yellow card. NYCFC’s Cooper Flax took the penalty kick, but Rick was once again heroic and made a convincing save to keep the score tied. Still, the Union were down a man, and a draw did them no good. Union II’s late push was not enough to find a winner,
and the match ended 1-1, missing the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs for the first time.
Despite the season being over, there was penalty kick shootout after the match, per usual for draws in MLS Next Pro. To add insult to injury, Union II also lost the shootout. Rick made one save and NYCFC missed two penalties, but Union II failed to convert 4 of 5 penalty kicks to drop the extra point.
Union II finished the season 11 th out of 16 teams in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference in 2026. Over 28 matches, Union II had 12 wins, 5 draws, and 11 losses, scoring 37 goals and conceding 40. Â Their total of 43 points was only one short playoff line, as Huntsville Cityadvanced to the Play-In Round on 44 points. Union II will be back in action in the 2027 MLS Next Pro Sprint Season, mirroring the MLS format.
