Brotherly Game Archive
Philadelphia Union U16s pick up two points in final GA Cup qualifier
The Philadelphia Union Academy ended their 2016 Generation adidas Cup qualification on a high note with a 1-1 draw and penalty-kick victory against Orlando City on Monday afternoon.
Anthony Fontana scored his third goal of the weekend and goalkeeper Tomas Romero made several key saves to lead the Philadelphia Union Academy U16 team to a 1-1 draw and penalty-kick win over host Orlando City in the final East Regional qualifier for the Generation adidas Cup on Monday afternoon.
Fontana put the Union on the board in the 52nd minute and had a couple chances to add a second – Darius Lewis scored a goal off a rebound that was called back and Kalil ElMedkhar hit the post twice – before Orlando City tied it up. Romero made a key 1v1 save in the closing seconds of the first half and made two saves in the penalty shootout to secure the 4-3 shootout victory.
The Union already failed to qualify for the Championship Division for the annual U17 competition, but will still be going to Frisco, Texas, next month to compete in the consolation Premier Division for the tournament March 18-26 with the other MLS teams that failed to qualify out of three regionals.
After scoring only one goal and picking up two points (a scoreless draw and penalty kick win over Orlando City) in the first leg back in October, the Union ended up with five points in three games from their trip to Tallahassee and seven points overall. A point is awarded for a draw and another point for winning the penalty shootout.
New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC, and D.C. United all finished top of the East Regional with 12 points, but New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC advanced on goal differential. The Union finished in fifth place, ahead of only the New England Revolution.
