Sunday afternoon brought along another MLS Next Pro gameday for Marlon LeBlanc and his Union II side as they traveled north of the border to take on Toronto FC 2, looking to bounce back from a terrible 4-1 defeat to NYRB II in mid-week.
Union II dominate Toronto FC II
To start the 2nd half of their 2024 campaign, Union II was massively boosted by the returns of David Vazquez, CJ Olney, Olwethu Makhanya, and Neil Pierre to the starting lineup. Leandro Soria and Eddy Davis lead the line, with Cavan Sullivan taking up a bench spot.
The game could all be summed up with the action of the opening 30 minutes. Union II looked completely fired up and almost angry after what happened in mid-week, and Toronto were the unfortunate ones to be on the end of just complete ruthlessness from Marlon LeBlanc’s side.
8 minutes into the game Philly had the lead after some great buildup play. The ball was played into the box and found Neil Pierre, who was unfortunate to see his looping header hit the post but captain Kyle Tucker was first to the rebound and tapped home for the opening goal of the game.
Toronto was feeling the pressure and Union II put on a masterclass of how to execute a high-intensity, high-pressing line to dispossess your opponent in their own half. After the press worked, CJ Olney slipped through Eddy Davis, who calmly finished into the right-hand corner and past the goalkeeper. 2 goals after 11 minutes and Union II were looking deadly.
Just 10 minutes after a quick-fire double to start the game, Union II found themselves 3-0 up after some great build–up play down the left flank saw Leandro Soria slot Frankie Westfield into the box. Westfield then danced around a couple of defenders, waited for the keeper to hit the floor and commit towards the ball, and then just finished into the bottom corner. Westfield’s 4th goal of the season was one to remember, and Leandro Soria managed to earn his first assist in MLS Next Pro thanks to Westfield’s goal.
Marlon LeBlanc’s side weren’t done there though and completed a ruthless and downright ridiculous opening 30 minutes of the game with a 4th goal when Frankie Westfield turned provider, putting a ball over the top to Eddy Davis, who finished from a very tight angle at the front post, his 8th goal of the season and a goal that gave him a brace within the first 30 minutes of the game.
With the game all but dead after 30 minutes of play, some were worried that this could turn really ugly and embarrassing for the home side. Thankfully for them, after the 4th goal and for the rest of the first half and all of the 2nd half, Union II took their foot off the gas and just cruised through the rest of the game.
I’ve had the privilege of watching every single Union II game since the 1st ever season of MLS Next Pro and I’ve seen some incredible performances from Marlon LeBlanc’s team but this was exceptional. It was a message to the rest of the league that this Union II team is on another level to everyone else in the league and they’re the team to beat.
Union II, with the win, will keep their top spot seat for another gameweek, as they grabbed their 9th win of the season and now sit on 32 points. Next weekend brings another roadtrip, this time up to New England.
Image Credit: Philadelphia Union II
