Chester—After going all the way to the MLS Next Pro Cup Final in 2024 but falling just short of the summit, can Philadelphia Union II make a return and take it all this season? That quest will kick off on Sunday at Subaru Park as they host FC Cincinnati 2 in the MLS Next Pro Quarterfinals.
After finishing second in the Eastern Conference, Union II got the second choice in the “Pick-Your-Opponent” event held last week. After first place New York Red Bulls II chose eighth place Carolina Core, Union II went with the seventh seed in FC Cincinnati 2, who they bested all three times they faced them in the regular season. Head coach Ryan Richter shared what went into that selection.
“When it came to our pick, it was between Cincinnati and Chicago. Those were the two. You know, Carolina Core is already selected. Huntsville was not an option for us because I think they were the best team out of the four that were eligible to be selected. I think that was clear in our opinion. So when we looked at Chicago and Cincinnati, there’s no right or wrong answer. We won three games against Cincinnati this year, but two of the games could go either way. We lost a game in Chicago and then won big in a game against Chicago at home. But even in both those games, I think they could go either way. So, yeah, we just looked at the matchups, the type of players that they have, the guys who could hurt us.”
In those previous matches, Union II won on the road 4-1 in June, and 1-0 at home and 2-1 away in August. Since they last faced each other, Cincinnati got on a hot streak and finished the regular season in good form. Richter knows it can present a challenge facing a team that many times, because at this point, they all know what to expect for the most part.
“Yeah, they’re playing a little differently now. They’re playing a little different shape than the three times that we played against them. So there’s some things that could look a little different,” Richter said. “And that’s what we tried to focus our preparation today and tomorrow, when we look at them and walk through some stuff on the field, of ideas and things that they might see in the game, just that it might be a little different than what they’ve seen, but it’s similar players. It’s nothing that they haven’t seen before.”
They do know each other well, and forward Markus Anderson knows it will be a good matchup. “I feel like both of us are very strong, know very well how to play, and I feel like we compete the very first minute. Every game that we put against Cincy hasn’t been easy, even if we’ve won, even if we’ve lost. Great back line, great midfield, great attack. Very structured, but also same as us. So it’s very head to head and it’s going to be a great game.”
Defender Rafael Uzcátegui echoed Anderson’s words, saying, “We know them, we know that they are a good team, that they are going to fight until the last whistle. So we know that we have to be really focused with the 90 minutes. The beginning of the goal that we have that is repeat the things that the guys did last year, we’re improving.”
Many of the Union II players were part of the 2024 squad and had that taste of success when they won the Eastern Conference, and then were up 2-0 in the first half of the MLS Next Pro Cup, only to have it snatched away by North Texas. Anderson, who had to leave that game during halftime after being injured, knows how driven the team is to get back to the final.
“I feel like the guys that were there last year really know what this is about and what we want, and to do it two times, maybe back to back would be great and especially for the guys that are new this year, that haven’t seen it, but know that we were there last year,” Anderson related. “ It’s something to look forward to, something to fight and compete for. And it’s something that in the back of our heads, we all want at the end of the day. It’s what everyone wants. So just have to keep level minded, head focused and go after it.”
For a player like Uzcátegui, who was new to the squad this season, he sees the desire of the veteran players to win and feeds off it. “I see the enthusiasm and they’re hungry… the way that they are hungry to repeat the things that they did last year, that it was not easy,” Uzcátegui shared. “ And it’s not easy to repeat it because they did a really great campaign last year, but in the way of the guys’ training, I know that they want to do it again and they want to improve. So that makes me feel hungry too.”
One of those players who was vital to the success in 2024, as well as in 2025, was the other half of a fantastic center back duo with Uzcátegui. Neil Pierre, who scored four goals and was phenomenal on the back line, was recognized by MLS Next Pro as Defender of the Year. Richter had nothing but praise for Pierre, and also noted how his teammates were part of the equation that led to the honor.
“We’re so happy for him. I think he deserves it, that’s for sure,” Richter said. “With his focus, his hard work this year, his work to get better, and then the way that he plays every game, when we talked about as a staff, it’s ‘Who would you rather have in this league as a defender than Neil?’ and there’s nobody. So I think that the teams in the selection process, they got that right. But happy for him, for his family, for his career. It’s an awesome honor, and hopefully it’s one that he uses as a springboard for the next step, but definitely well deserved this year, and his teammates played a big role in that as well. So I’m glad that he thanked them in the way that he did yesterday. And he definitely deserves it.”
Other accolades came for Union II players when it was announced Thursday that Philadelphia had the most players selected (four) for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the US squad. Jordan Griffin, Jamir Johnson, Kellan LeBlanc, and Cavan Sullivan were all named to the roster.
“It’s a great honor for them, and I know they’re all very excited for it,” Richter said of the quartet. “Great honor for their families. So that’s really cool, and it’s great for the club to have four players that will be representing the US at the U-17 World Cup.”
He has seen improvement in all of them, and sees this as just the beginning of their journeys—ones that will hopefully be long and successful.
“Cavan making the push, getting some first team minutes, that’s been a great step for him,” Richter said. “Jordan—if you look at him and his performance in his first game of the year, to where he’s at now, where he’s a consistent starter, I think that it’s clear how he’s developed, how he’s gotten up to speed with the second team, and the intensity and the physicality of that jump from the Academy.”
Another young player who, like Griffin, has made a much bigger impact this season is LeBlanc. Richter noted, “With Kellan, and his decision making and the way that he can affect the games, I think he’s not just out there. He’s making a difference in games, and he’s one that we can consistently rely on to do a job for us and create something in games. And that’s where he’s become more and more effective each month that passes by and with all the more experience that he gets.”
Johnson has only made 12 appearances (all off the bench) but has had some great moments with Union II, including two goals and one assist, and been important with the Academy as well. “With Jamir, he hasn’t really fully broken in, I would say, with Union II, and you know that could just happen at a different time frame, you know? So it’s just because, it’s some guys getting minutes right now. That doesn’t mean a year from now that can’t change,” Richter said.
Richter put the honor of being selected in perspective. He has worked with players from the Academy up to the first team, and appreciates the journey. “For all four of them, it’s an awesome honor,” he said. “We’re proud of them, and not to take anything away, though—it’s the U-17 team World Cup, and their goal is to have careers as professionals. And there’s a long way from U-17 World Cup team to Ale Bedoya and playing 500 games and 70 games for your senior national team. So we’re proud of them. Awesome honor. But for them, keep their heads down, enjoy the experience, but understand they’re on a long journey here, and they need to keep going to get better. This is not the end of that journey for them.”
Those four players will be available for selection in the playoff match against FC Cincinnati 2, but should Union II advance, they will be away with the national team. While their absences would be felt, it would be a time for other players to step up and make their marks. Richter shared that Uzcátegui, Óscar Benítez, or Nick Pariano could fill in for Griffin at fullback. In the attacking midfield role, Willyam Ferreira has been showing a lot of promise.
“It could be an opportunity for a guy like Willyam Ferreira, who deserves it, and no one in here would doubt that he would step up for the moment and and play a great game. So I’m actually excited. I hope that, for many reasons, we advance in the first round. But one of the ones that we’ll be excited for is to see the opportunity that some guys get that otherwise maybe wouldn’t have.”
Union II will need to beat FC Cincinnati 2 for a fourth time this season to keep going in the playoffs, and it will likely be a battle—one that the players and coaching staff are amped up for.
“I would say what we’re focusing on is being very compact and closing the middle,” Anderson said of the challenges the match will bring. “Obviously, they have a six that they like to play through and to break us down, but as long as we’re structured and compact when we’re pressing and all moving together, it’s going to be a good game.”
Richter summed it up by saying, “I think with either of the teams that we would have picked, if we can’t beat them at home, then we don’t deserve to make a run in the playoffs. So you know you’re going to get a good game no matter what. That’s why it’s the playoffs. So we have to be up for it. We have to be ready to take care of business at home.”
Just like the first team, Union II brings the intensity, grit, and determination, and it should indeed be a great matchup. It is win or go home, and Union II are not ready to be done. The match will be at 4:00 PM at Subaru Park, so if you are unable to get there to support in person, catch it on MLS Season Pass on AppleTV.
Main article photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union II
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