CHESTER, Pa.— After facing a brand-new foe in the previous match, Philadelphia Union II look to get back in the win column against a very familiar one as they hit the road for their first away match of the season. Last Sunday, CT United FC handed Union II their first loss of the season in a 2-1 battle that saw the Boys in Blue playing down a man for the last half hour. This time, they face the team that ended their 2025 campaign in the Eastern Conference final, and then went on to win the MLS Next Pro Final in Red Bull New York II.
Facing the defending MLS Next Pro Champions on the road in what always feels like a big rivalry match (like their first team counterparts), Union II have a big test on Sunday in the second part of what Union II head coach Ryan Richter said would be back to back games with possibly their toughest opponents in the Eastern Conference.
Both Union II and Red Bull II have some highly talented young players in their ranks that also featured in 2025, and when looking at the match tactically, Richter expects similar play to the previous season. “I think it’s a similar style to last year,” he said. “I think that’s the way that the club’s kind of going. You see the shape that they play, and a lot of the same pieces, actually, too. So it’s going to be a tough game.”
Richter’s squad will need to be disciplined, and the midfield will play a big part. That midfield will be without Óscar Benítez, who is out after being sent off for a second yellow card in the previous match. It could be a chance for new signing, Mamoutou Berthé, to play a big role. This writer saw him training with Union II quite a bit in 2025, and according to Richter, it was a long process to get him signed, but they had a good amount of time to get a look at him.
“We like a lot of his attributes,” Richter said of Berthé. “He’s a super athlete, great ball winner, reads the game well, needs to improve a little bit technically with the ball, but has some really good ideas as well. So we look forward to getting him in kind of right away and right up to speed, and he’ll play an important role in our midfield.” Whether that is against RBNY II is still questionable, but a definite possibility. They also may be without Jordan Griffin again at left back, whose status is questionable as he has been dealing with an injury.
In any case, they will need play compact and continue to get in sync. Richter mentioned some of what their opponent hurt them on last year, saying, “When they were able to kind of play through the midfield and get time on the ball and connect through their sixes and their eights, and then isolate some of their wide players who have a lot of quality it gets difficult, you know? So we have to go do a good job being compact, taking away this opportunity to kind of play through the middle and jump these passes and kind of turn them into transitions for us. And we did a good job with that, with them last season.”
The squad also needs to finish their chances after the transitions, with Richter adding, “But turning [transitions] into goals is what ends up winning the game. And if you don’t take these chances and it gets hard, because as they grow into the game, the spaces get a little bigger, you know, they can kind of set the tempo with with some of the quality they have through midfield.”
RBNY II are currently unbeaten, coming off a 1-1 draw against NYCFC II in which they lost the shootout. Returning players that were impactful in 2025 and continue to be, like Roald Mitchell and Rafael Mosquera, will likely present some challenges. Union II’s defense has been led strongly by Rafael Uzcátegui, and George Marks has been fantastic in goal. Assuming Marks gets the start again, the leadership of those two will be critical.
However, Union II have only managed to score one game in each of their first three matches, including two from Malik Jakupovic. It will be worth watching to see if the attack can break through on the chances as they do have dangerous pieces in the mix. Academy forwards John Ruf and Theo Reed have had some playing time, with the former making two appearances and the latter one. Both have done well with the U-18s, and could play more of a role. Richter likes what he has seen, but sees room for improvement.
“Theo’s played less than John, but looked lively when he did come in, and John started the first game, came off the bench in the last two, and does well. He’s good change of pace guy, and he battles, and, you know, the energy that he’s going to bring in the game.”
Richter wants his strikers to come in and make a difference in the game, and he is looking for these young ones to do just that. While he added areas to improve and clean up, he praised Ruf’s work rate, mentality, and attitude. He also likes what he is seeing from Reed, who recently announced his commitment to the University of Michigan.
“He’s got such a great mindset in the way that he approaches training, and he’s aware of what he needs got better at, and he’s prepared to work for it. So, you know, that might take a few months to kind of get him up to speed fully,” Richter said of Ruf. “But I really like both of them [Ruf and Reed], how they’ve kind of come in and start this year and and look forward to seeing how far they can push throughout the season.”
On the defensive end, another Academy player, Lennon Harrington, has had some opportunities off the bench for Union II to help shore up the defense as someone who can play at center back or midfield. Richter praised the Cornell commit’s abilities.
“Yeah, he’s a really smart soccer player, you know, up for the physicality in the games that he’s come in, he’s kind of settled things down for us, and that’s exactly what we look for someone when we put him in midfield. He can play as a six or center back, and I think our style of play probably fits him better at a higher level as a six, but he’s done a good job. And all the games that he’s come in, he’s been able to come in and be up to the physicality of the game, kind of help hold his position in the middle field, and then make good, simple decisions when he’s in possession. And he has that quality, and he has pretty good decision making ability. I’m looking to see how he can continue to grow in that role.”
Union II will travel to MSU Soccer Park at Montclair State University for the match on Sunday, March 22, with kickoff at 5:00 PM. The game will be livestreamed at MLSNextPro.com and OneFootball.
Paco Dadi signed by Union II
Union II announced Friday another new signing in midfielder Paco Dadi, who will be added to the roster following the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate. Unfortunately, he will miss much of the 2026 season due to an injury sustained in training, but has been around the squad and been rehabilitating.
Dadi, the son of Eugène Dadi, who had a long career in professional soccer, holds French and Ivorian citizenship. He got his start in Italy, playing for Genoa’s U-17 and U-18 sides, and developed in France prior to that with Toulouse FC and Balma SC. In 2025, he moved to Spain to join Huesca Football School, where he was through June 2025.
“We are excited to add Paco to the club and believe he has the quality to develop within our system,” said Union II Head Coach Ryan Richter in the press release. “While he unfortunately sustained an injury in the beginning of the season, we believe not only in his work ethic, but also in his ability to make a strong impact when he returns to the field.”
Youth National Team call ups
U.S. Soccer announced March camp rosters for the youth national teams, and the Union had numerous representatives selected from the first team, second team, and academy as follows:
U-15: Jude Larbi, Thomas White
U-16: Samuel Diaz Gallego, Abdoulaye Diop, Timoni Gbalajobi, Abram Judy
U-17: Willyam Ferreira, Tyler Gladstone, Malik Jakupovic, Matthew White
U-18: Kellan LeBlanc
U-19: Neil Pierre*, Cavan Sullivan
U-20: Sal Olivas, Andrew Rick, Finn Sundstrom
*Currently on loan
The Union frequently has great representation at the youth national team level as they are touted as having one of the best academies in the United States. Some of these players have become very impactful players at the MLS Next Pro and MLS level, and the younger ones are on track to see their roles continue to grow.
Union head coach Bradley Carnell is not surprised at the number of call ups, saying, “I think it’s a standard- I’ve seen last year firsthand of what we do around here at the Union, and making sure that we try and uphold those standards, and continue to build on those standards, and then also to show the sort of the carrot that you know, the what are we doing this for, right?”
At the first team level, Andrew Rick and Cavan Sullivan have become very important pieces, and Malik Jakupovic made appearances in Concacaf Champions Cup matches. Carnell said, “But you see now, with regards to Cavan, Malik, like all these guys are now making appearances and meaningful contributions, and Malik getting a shot in Mexico and doing really well for the last couple minutes. So, you know, this, for me is like the at the end of the journey of all those call ups, but it’s a great testament to the club.”
The players certainly have to earn it when it comes to getting first team minutes, which Carnell has made very clear. To him, Sullivan and Jakupovic have earned it.
“I’ve always said it, we’re not just playing names, just to, you know, check the boxes and say, hey, we started the young ones here. We did this there. Everything has to be earned. And, you know, especially Cavan and Malik, they’ve been training in the right areas and really doing well. And that’s, that’s the reward, you know, you get more game time, you get more sort of recognition, and that’s great. I mean, I love seeing the young guns go at it. And, yeah, I just think it’s what we do. So, you know, we don’t want to get tired of that standard, for sure, because we’re a development club.”
Ryan Richter, having several of his Union II players amongst the call ups, especially the U-17s, and had a similar sentiment. “They deserve it,” he said of the U-17s. “Obviously you know that Willyam and Malik have started every game so far and have done really well. And, you know, I think they’re guys for that. I don’t know what the entire age group looks like, what that birth year looks like, but they’re guys certainly that stand out for the for the 09 group within our group, and Tyler as well.”
(credit: Union II)
(credit: Union II)
(credit: Union Academy)
Gladstone made the bench in the game against CT United, but was an unused substitute. The recent MVP for the U-18s in the Snow Bowl has continued to impress at the Academy level. “Tyler hasn’t as much game time with with Union II, but he’s done great with the 18s,” Richter said. “And you know he will work his way into getting some time throughout this season, that’s for sure.”
Being a former Academy coach within the Union and always watchful of the up and coming players, Richter is well aware of the talent in the academy ranks. He has seen what Matthew White has been able to do. “Matthew as well, he’s a little different with a position, kind of where a goalkeeper is at and when they’re ready to kind of step in.The physicality makes a bigger difference. And you kind of see the way he’s built. He’s just growing into his body still a little bit.”
Richter summed it up well, saying, “All of the guys, they deserve that call. We’re proud of them, happy for them, and hopefully they represent us well when they’re there.”
Main article photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union II
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