For the first time in club history, Subaru Park will host a Union II playoff game when they face rivals New York City FC II on Sunday afternoon. The matchup was initially picked by Marlon LeBlanc and the Union II Front Office during the MLS Next Pro Pick-Your-Opponent event.
Union II & NYCFC II square off in postseason
This past regular season has been a historic one in so many ways for Union II and their individual players, with the likes of Eddy Davis breaking the club record for goals scored in a single campaign with 13, CJ Olney finishing 3rd on the league assist leaders table with 8 in 17 games, and the likes of Olney, David Vazquez, and others earning their first homegrown MLS contracts and making their first team debuts this season.
Up next for the youngest squad in the league is a huge playoff game against their bitter rivals NYCFC II. Marlon LeBlanc will have a full squad available for selection in this game, even with Cavan Sullivan and Andrew Rick Jr both featuring on the subs bench for the first team in their crucial playoff-hunting game against FC Cincinnati. CJ Olney and Frankie Westfield will be looking to impress in this one, after being named to the league’s Best XI earlier this week
NYCFC II managed to finish 6th in the Eastern Conference standings and were one of a group of teams that finished on 45 points for the season, their goal difference being the reason they took the 6th spot. They’ve struggled as of late for any sort of consistent form, only earning one win since the start of September. NYCFC II are led upfront by Taylor Calheira, who earned a league Best XI honor alongside Philly’s CJ Olney and Frankie Westfield. His 14 goals and 5 assists have been a major reason why NYCFC II are in the postseason this year.
These two rivals have faced eachother 2 times this season, with NYCFC II taking the game they hosted 2-1. NYCFC II scored twice in the final few minutes of the game to come away with all 3 points. LeBlanc’s side had to wait until near the end of September to get revenge and it was definitely worth the wait.
In the craziest game I’ve covered in 6 years of sports writing. Union II overcame a 3-1 deficit to win the game 4-3. Nick Pariano scored a penalty before Eddy Davis popped up with the 3-3 equalizing goal and then Frankie Westfield headed home the winner from a Cavan Sullivan free-kick delivery.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 5pm ET at Subaru Park, with tickets to the game available online. Alternatively, you can watch the game at home on Apple TV via an active MLS Season Pass subscription.
Image Credit: Philadelphia Union II
