Chester – Saturday night at Subaru Park was a chance to shine for many young players within the Philadelphia Union’s organization, and for Markus Anderson and Eddy Davis amongst others, they did not squander that opportunity. With many of their teammates away on international duty, the remaining players, including many from Union II, took on Liga MX side Atlas FC in a friendly as they looked to keep in a rhythm as they sit in first place in the East and Supporters’ Shield.
Match Recap
The starting lineup saw a good amount of first team regulars and reserves, but the bench consisted of mostly Union II players: forwards Bruno Damiani and Chris Donovan up top, a midfield of Ben Bender, Jeremy Rafanello, Alejandro Bedoya, and Jesús Bueno, a back line of Kai Wagner, Olwethu Makhanya, Jakob Glesnes, and Olivier Mbaizo, and Oliver Semmle in goal.
Both teams would have a few chances in the first half, but the Union appeared the more dominant side. In the 6th minute, a nice chance came for Alejandro Bedoya via a shot from distance at the right side of top of the box, but it went wide left. A lot of early pressure by the Union continued without a breakthrough. In the 11th minute a shot by Bruno Damiani went about a foot wide left of the goal. Atlas would respond a few minutes later by megging Olwethu Makhanya, who then fouled an Atlas player, setting up a free kick just outside the box, but the shot was blocked and sent back out.
Damiani would get another chance in the 17th minute as he sent a shot toward net from the left side, but it was blocked and went out for a Union corner that was unsuccessful.
In the 19th minute, Jeremy Rafanello was shown a yellow for a foul outside the top of the box, leading to a free kick by Atlas that was blasted, but went wide right. By this point, the tensions were building and the game was getting chippy.
In the 24th minute, Kai Wagner, in close range of the goal, shot the ball right into the face of the Atlas keeper Antonio Sánchez, and then collided with him, leading the keeper to be down on the ground for a short time. He ultimately was able to get up and continue.
A yellow card was shown to an Atlas player in the 30th minute after Damiani was taken down. Rafanello took the free kick, but it was knocked out by the Atlas keeper, then recycled and skied over the crossbar.
Another yellow for Atlas came in the 38th minute as Carlos Orrantia was called for a foul, and then in the 45th minute Bueno was shown a yellow after some shoving near midfield as tensions were flaring. One minute into stoppage time, Bueno took a shot from top of the box went over the goal, and then right before the halftime whistle was blown, Semmle came up with a big save to preserve the 0-0 scoreline heading into the locker room.
As expected, Coach Bradley Carnell made use of his bench in the second half, making five changes at halftime. Nick Pariano, Neil Pierre, Isaiah LeFlore, Jovan Lukic, and Markus Anderson replaced Glesnes, Makhanya, Wagner, Bueno and Damiani. Notably, this was the first time Pariano, Pierre, and LeFlore appeared on the pitch with the first team after some bench appearances. Mbaizo moved over to center back with Pierre, and Pariano played as a right back and LeFlore at left back. Anderson and Donovan were paired up top. Anderson wasted no time making a difference as he blasted the ball into net from outside the box in the 46th minute, putting the Union up 1-0.
Semmle came up with a big save in the 49th minute, but otherwise, the reserves that were brought in for the Union were bringing a lot of energy and outplaying Atlas’s reserves. It was obvious that the Union II players were hungry with something to prove. However, in the 62nd minute, LeFlore and Pierre got beaten by Atlas’s Diego Gonzalez, who put the ball past Semmle to level the match at 1-1. Shortly after, Eddy Davis and Stas Korzeniowski, making their first appearances with the first team, and Indiana Vassilev, replaced Donovan, Bedoya, and Bender. Anderson then moved over to attacking mid in a role that Union II Ryan Richter has been using him to much success lately. The chemistry of Anderson and Davis, a frequent partnership seen in 2024 and 2025 with Union II, carried over into this match. Davis made an immediate impact in his first appearance with the first team, and 2024’s top Union II goal scorer slotted the ball into the right side of the net in the 65th minute, putting the Union ahead 2-1.
Atlas would see some chances, including in the 71st minute via a dangerous free kick, but Semmle was on it. In the 75th minute, Rafanello was fouled and a yellow card was shown to Atlas’s Alonso Ramirez. Rafanello, on the ground and appearing to be in a lot of pain, waved for the trainers, who supported him walking off the field. Leandro Soria, making his first appearance with the first team, came on in his place. Another yellow went to Atlas as Victor Rios de Alba was called for a foul. Semmle came up big again in the 87th minute as the 6’3″ German keeper got a hand on a shot and knocked it out for an Atlas corner that did not amount to anything, preserving the lead. Five minutes of stoppage time saw a Pariano free kick outside the box that Anderson just missed heading in.
The final whistle was blown, and the Union emerged victorious with a final score of 2-1. For the smaller than normal crowd who attended in person (the match was not broadcast via stream or radio), they got to see some of what is coming up in the ranks and waiting in the wings. It was, of course, a friendly with no ramifications, but for the young men who do not normally get to play much or at all with the first team, it was a chance to prove themselves.
Anderson, Davis, and Soria Seizing Opportunities
For a player like Markus Anderson, who made a handful of appearances in 2024 with the first team, it was a huge moment as he hit that rocket of a shot. In 2024, he had a strong performance in the depleted squad in Portland that memorably was victorious 3-1. Unfortunately, first team appearances ultimately ceased after a mistake in June 2024 at FC Cincinnati led to a turnover that resulted in game winning goal for Cincy and also struggles with injuries that hampered his playing time. He would persevere with Union II, including scoring in the MLS Next Pro Cup versus North Texas in November 2024. In that match, Anderson took a knock and could not continue after halftime as Union II led 2-0. His absence was felt as Union II were held scoreless in the second half, giving up three goals (partly due to playing down a man after Makhanya was sent off) as they lost 3-2. It was a tough ending to an otherwise thrilling season with the reserve squad.
In 2025, Anderson has been with Union II with some time spent training with the first team, but has again been hindered by some injuries early in the season that have limited his playing time. Since returning to matches with Union II, Ryan Richter has been using him at forward and as a ten. He especially seems to thrive at the ten, and Richter had noted on Wednesday how that ten position really suits him. He makes unselfish plays as a strong team player, but also has the ability to score bangers. Anderson had one goal and two assists in Union II’s 4-1 victory over FC Cincinnati 2. He talked about his perseverance and confidence post game when asked about what it meant scoring Tuesday and Saturday:
“Throughout last year and this year I’ve been going through injuries and it hasn’t been the best for me mentally, but I’ve just been picking my head up, working hard, doing what the coaches have said, and those two goals have just put a lot of confidence on my back and just makes me want to keep going forward.”
Anderson was not the only player out there with something to prove. Eddy Davis, signed as a homegrown to the first team at the beginning of the 2025 season, had yet to appear with the first team. In 2024, he was Union II’s top goal scorer with 13 regular season goals, one in the MLS Next Pro Cup, and was forth overall in MLS Next Pro. Set back by injuries early in the season, he had limited appearances with Union II so far in 2025, but has been starting matches more frequently and looks better every match. He is a tenacious goal scorer who is starting to really find his form. On Tuesday in Cincinnati, Davis notched his second goal of the season, and also has two assists on the season. He talked about using his time with Union II to get back in form and how he felt after having two goals this week:
“Yeah, I mean, obviously, there’s always going to be ups and downs, but I kept my head on straight and I didn’t let it get to me, and now it’s time to start cooking, so I’m super excited.”
Leandro Soria, a forward who often plays more as a winger, made his first appearance with the first team as a signed Union II player, also spoke post-match. The Argentine joined Union II last season and has frequently been matched up with Anderson and Davis in Union II. In his native Spanish, he spoke about the importance of playing an international match against experienced players, and he remarked that he was very happy to get the opportunity and play against a team from Mexico for the first time.
It was a chance to shine for many young players, and Markus Anderson and Eddy Davis seized that opportunity along with many of their Union II teammates and first team bench players as they earned the victory in Chester on Saturday night. While it may have just been a friendly with no ramifications, every opportunity to prove their worth and skill in front of the coaches, fans, and scouts is something not to be taken lightly and can lead to opportunities down the road.
Match Highlights:
The Union return to regular action on Saturday, June 14 as they host Charlotte FC at Subaru Park with a 7:30 PM kickoff. Union II will then host Charlotte’s MLS Next Pro squad, Crown Legacy on Sunday, June 15th at 7:00 PM. Both matches will be aired on MLS Season Pass on AppleTV.
Main article photo credit: Philadelphia Union
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