Sunday evening brought along another MLS Next Pro gameday for Marlon LeBlanc and his table topping Union II side. This weekend was a road trip to Ohio to take on Columbus Crew 2 in a game that had huge significance on the race to finish top of the Eastern Conference.
Union II vs Columbus Crew II: Team selection
LeBlanc had a few team selection issues to deal with heading into this one, with David Vazquez away with the US U20’s and both CJ Olney and Frank Westfield featuring on the bench for the senior team the night before in Leagues Cup action. Gavin Wetzel came into the starting XI, taking Westfield’s place, while Cavan Sullivan returned to take Olney’s place after the 14-year-old spent last weekend at the MLS Next All Star game. Mike Sheridan was back between the sticks tonight, with Andrew Rick also with the first team again.
A hot start for Union II
The game started brightly for Union II, with them enjoying early possession of the ball and 4 minutes in, with Cavan Sullivan having a shot from range but it was comfortably stopped by Columbus’ goalkeeper. Eddy Davis also tested the Columbus goalkeeper with a turn and shot from just outside the box, but it headed straight into safety.
Union II continued to dominate the game and on the 20th minute mark, Nick Pariano had a huge chance to put Philly into the lead. After a misplaced pass at the back from Columbus, Pariano managed to grab the loose ball and drive at the keeper, but but his shot was poorly fired.
A minute later and Union II went close again, after a long ball from the back found Kyle Tucker in the box, the captain took the ball down beautifully and laid it back to Eddy Davis with a back heel. Davis, who was looking for his 11th goal of the season, hit a good shot but Lapkes pulled off a fine save.
Columbus takes the lead
Columbus slowly came into the game after that quick flurry of chances for Union II and they went very close to opening the scoring, but Mike Sheridan pulled off a brilliant save from a shot just inside the box.
Sheridan’s great goalkeeping was put to waste though as a few minutes after that brilliant save, Columbus hit on the counter and Anthony Alaoueh had a free header just a few yards out from goal to put the home side 1-0 up.
Cavan Sullivan had an amazing chance to draw Union II level right before half time, but instead of shooting, he tried to find Markus Anderson at the back post, but overhit his pass on a poor decision, leaving the Union with a 1-goal deficit at halftime.
Union get back into the game
Union II started the 2nd half really well just as they did the first, but this time they finally took a chance that fell to them. 53 minutes in and Union II hit Columbus on the counter attack, Sanders Ngabo played Eddy Davis in brilliantly and the young striker, cut inside and finished into the bottom right corner for his 11th goal of the season.
The next 20 minutes of the game was played quite tentatively, with both sides trying to keep the ball. Mike Sheridan made a good save from a strike inside the box around 65 minutes in and then Sal Olivas, who had just come off the bench, stung the hands of Lapkas in the Columbus net around 70 minutes in.
Another late heartbreak
Disaster struck for Union II 80 minutes into the game when a ball over the top of Makhanya, from Adu-Gyamfi of Columbus, found Jayden Da who had just come off the bench a minute before, and Da finished brilliantly past a helpless Sheridan to put Columbus back into the lead at 2-1.
Jayden Da was mixed up in all the action during his near 10 minutes on the pitch, after scoring what looked like the winning goal, Da was booked twice, his 2nd coming near the 90th minute and was sent off. Columbus was down to 10 men and 7 minutes were added on.
There were absolute scenes of joy for Union II as in the 92nd minute, after Makhanya played Cavan Sullivan down the left wing, the youngster found Gavin Wetzel steaming in at the back post and the defender slotted the ball home cooly for his first career goal and a goal that tied the scoreline at 2-2.
What should have been a huge point saved with Wetzel’s last minute goal turned into scenes of complete and utter heartbreak, just as it was last week, as Adrian Gonzalez ran through into the Union II box and Jamir Berdecio tripped him up with mere seconds on the clock for a Columbus penalty. Gibran Rayo stepped up and slotted the penalty home, sending Union II back to Philly with 0 points and a tie for the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings after Cincinnati 2 cruised to a 5-0 win over Chicago.
Image Credit: Philadelphia Union II
