Philadelphia Union
Cavan Sullivan shines in dramatic comeback for Philadelphia Union II
Philadelphia Union II made a late comeback to earn a 3-3 draw at home on Sunday afternoon’s match vs. Chattanooga FC.
Cavan Sullivan led the way for Union II with two goals, including a late equalizer to send the match to penalties. 16 year old striker Malik Jakupovic came off the bench to score a crucial goal. Young DC United loanee Gavin Turner had an excellent match for the visitors, contributing a beautiful goal and an assist. Andrew Rick was the hero in the shootout, saving two penalties before captain Nick Pariano slotted home the winning spot kick to earn an extra point.
Chattanooga FC made their first ever visit to Subaru Park on Sunday afternoon. Going into the match, the visitors found themselves in third place in the Eastern Conference, only one point behind Union II. The independent MLS Next Pro side consists of fully senior players, including graduates of NCAA programs as well as players with senior experience in Europe. This includes Chattanooga’s all-time leading goal scorer Markus Naglestad as well as former Premier League goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic, a distant relative of Union II striker Malik Jakupovic. Among the Chattanooga starters was highly-regarded DC United youngster Gavin Turner, making his first start for the club since being loaned out.
While the match started quiet, the play began to turn into one way traffic after the first fifteen minutes, with Union II enjoying the majority of possession in the Chattanooga defensive half. They were eventually rewarded for their sustained pressure in the 18th minute as captain Nick Pariano won a loose ball and found Cavan Sullivan about 25 yards from goal. Sullivan slalomed around two defenders before belting a finish into the top right corner, leaving no chance for the goalkeeper Jakupovic. The excellent finish from the young Sullivan put Union II up 1-0.
Despite continued pressure and many half chances, Union II failed to add to their lead. In the 32nd minute, Union II had a penalty shout. Markus Anderson was taken down close to the edge of the box, but the referee chose to play the advantage as the ball fell to Sullivan. He took a shot on goal from the left side of the 18 yard box but drove it wide. Minutes later, a long range effort from Union II midfielder Kellan LeBlanc crashed off the crossbar.
Just before halftime, Chattanooga were awarded a free kick about 40 yards from the Union II goal. Chattanooga set up for a cross into the box, but instead took the free kick short to Turner. With no defender closing him down, he unleashed a rocket into the top right corner, beating Andrew Rick. The halftime whistle blew moments after Chattanooga tied the match against the run of play.
The goal changed the momentum of the match drastically, as Chattanooga looked the better team on the opposite side of halftime. The away team scored to give themselves a lead in the 57th minute when a miscommunication between Andrew Rick and Rafael Uzcátegui allowed Chattanooga forward Jalen James in on goal. He recycled possession quickly, allowing Turner to receive a ball near the end line. Turner squared the ball back to James who was allowed the time to take a touch before passing it into an empty net. Rick had issues communicating with Uzcátegui again minutes later, handling the ball just outside the box and taking a yellow card. Rick was fortunate to get away with only a yellow. The free kick from Daniel Mangarov was struck well, but Rick stood tall to make the save.
The Union II defense was cut through easily once again in the 67th minute when Isaiah LeFlore was beaten by Mangarov. Mangarov’s driven cross was found at the back post by Tate Robertson, who was again afforded enough time to take a touch in the 6 yard box before tapping in a simple goal, increasing the lead to 3-1.
The offensive substitutes Malik Jakupovic and Willyam Ferreira brought new life to Union II. They combined for a goal in the 84th minute of the match when Ferreira beat his man on the dribble and found Jakupovic with a cross that was headed in confidently by the young striker, halving the deficit to 3-2. The assist was Ferreira’s first goal contribution in MLS Next Pro. Almost immediately after, Pariano combined with substitute Óscar Benitez before crossing into the box. The ball was knocked down in the box, and finished calmly into the bottom corner by Sullivan, erasing the Chattanooga lead in a matter of two minutes. A flurry of late chances went begging, earning both teams a point and going into penalties.
Rick, the usual hero, made two great saves in the penalty shootout on Chattanooga’s Robert Screen and Nick Mendonca. Nick Pariano scored the winning penalty after Mendonca’s miss, earning Union II the extra point at home.
There are many mixed takeaways from Sunday’s match. For one, it appears that young Sullivan is inching closer to being ready for regular MLS appearances with every appearance in MLS Next Pro. Jakupovic and Ferreira already look like difference makers off the bench. In terms of the table, Union II retained their lead over Chattanooga and remain 2 points behind Red Bulls II with two games in hand.
That said, it was an uncharacteristically poor defensive performance from Union II, who had yet to concede three or more goals at home or away in the 2025 MLS Next Pro season. The last time the Union II defense conceded three goals was the MLS Next Cup Final in 2024 vs. North Texas SC, and for the last time the young backline leaked three goals at home was back in June 2024 vs. Red Bulls II.
With the loss of big midfielder Henry Bernstein to the University of Maryland, coach Ryan Richter was asked after the match if he thought Bernstein’s absence could have contributed to the defensive lapses. Richter thought that “the three goals were preventable, and not structural”. He described the lapses in defense as “youth soccer level goals” that had more to do with lack of focus than personnel. That said, Richter credited substitute midfielder Óscar Benitez for playing well as a substitute in the defensive midfield position.
Despite the issues at the back, Richter was proud of his young team for keeping the belief and not letting their heads drop. Sullivan said that the belief and perseverance in the team embodies Philadelphia. Union II are in action next in North Carolina on Saturday, July 19th against Crown Legacy FC.
Union II Starting XI: 4-2-2-2 Formation
Andrew Rick; Giovanny Sequera (Óscar Benitez 72’), Neil Pierre, Rafael Uzcátegui, Isaiah LeFlore (Jordan Griffin 67’); Nick Pariano (C), Kellan LeBlanc (Leandro Soria 67’), Cavan Sullivan, David Vazquez; Eddy Davis (Willyam Ferreira 77’), Markus Anderson (Malik Jakupovic 45’)
Goals: Sullivan 18’ (Pariano), Jakupovic 84’ (Ferreira), Sullivan 86’Yellow Cards: Sequera 53’, Rick 64’
Unused Subs: Pierce Holbrook
Chattanooga FC Starting XI: 5-4-1 Formation
Eldin Jakupovic; Ethan Dudley, Farid Sar-Sar (C), Nathan Koehler (Robert Screen 85’), Milo Garvanian, Tate Robertson; Steeve Louis-Jean, Gavin Turner (Nick Mendonca 77’), Jalen James (Keegan Ancelin 77’), Colin Thomas (Markus Naglestad 45’); Daniel Mangarov (Callum Watson 70’)
Goals: Turner 45+6’ (Mangarov), James 57’ (Turner), Robertson 67’ (Mangarov)
Yellow Cards: Robertson 36’, Sar-Sar 42’, Watson 90+3’
Unused Subs: Michael Barrueta; Xavier Rimpel; Min-Jae Kwak
