MONTCLAIR, N.J.— Can you really call it a rematch when it’s the next season, with a new coach on one side and some new players? It certainly felt like a revenge game of sorts for Union II as they battled defending MLS Next Pro Champions Red Bull New York II up at Montclair State University. The last time these two teams met, it was in the 2025 MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference Final, where Union II were defeated 2-1 at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Prior to that, Union II had a rough match on the same pitch they took to Sunday evening, at MSU Soccer Park losing 2-0 in frustrating fashion. Union II, however, emerged victorious this time after the 1-1 match went to a penalty shootout, nabbing the extra point after going 4-3 on penalties and an incredible performance by goalkeeper George Marks.
The starting lineup saw two changes from the previous match, with Matheus De Paula and Mamoutou Berthé as the defensive mids, making their first starts for Union II. The rest was the same with George Marks in goal, a back line of Oliver Pratt, Finn Sundstrom, Rafael Uzcátegui, and Giovanny Sequera, attacking mids Kellan LeBlanc and Willyam Ferreira, and strikers Malik Jakupovic and Sal Olivas.
Jakupovic was coming off his MLS debut the night prior, playing roughly the last 30 minutes of the Union’s match against Chicago Fire.
Notably, on the bench, was goalkeeper Pierce Holbook, making his first appearance in a matchday lineup since getting injured last August.
Red Bull New York II were missing some of their first team players like Rafael Mosquera and Tanner Rosborough, but still had the very dangerous Roald Mitchell, who would prove to be a threat all evening.
The match began with Union II almost conceding in the first minute as RBNY II’s Mitchell broke away and attempted a shot, but Sundstrom made a sliding tackle to block the ball, which Marks then scooped up. Mitchell just missed again in the 12th minute, which would come to be the story of the night with him.
Benjamin Rodriguez received the match’s first yellow card in the 17th minute after fouling Jakupovic, setting up a dangerous free kick from the left that was cleared away by RBNY II. A few minutes later, Olivas went on a breakaway, looking like he was going to get a great scoring opportunity, but was called offside on an extremely close call.
As the very physical match continued, Sundstrom was shown a yellow in the 25th minute for a foul, leading to a free kick that was handled easily by Marks. Another foul was committed shortly after, this time by Sequera, who was also booked on a yellow, setting up yet another dangerous opportunity for RBNY II. Their shot hit the woodwork and deflected, then was cleared out by Union II. The fouls continued as Sequera was going on a run in the 31st minute, but Nehuén Benedetti pulled his jersey and received a yellow for the foul.
As the first half was wrapping up, Marks continued his stellar play by making a huge save in the 39th minute on Aimar Sánchez’s shot. On the resulting corner, Mitchell just missed putting it in on a header. Despite the flurry of activity around Union II’s goal, they managed to keep the ball out and head to the locker room at the half still scoreless.
Ryan Richter made his first changes in the 57th minute, bringing on Lennon Harrington and Jordan Griffin in place of Berthé and Sequera. Griffin was returning from a hamstring injury, having missed the previous match.
No changes were made at the half for either team. Union II got an early chance on a free kick that bounced around in front of the goal, but the Boys in Blue were unable finish it into the net or even get their first shot of the match. Likewise, RBNY II were stymied, though they had several chances in the 56th minute during a bunch of chaos in front of the goal, where Mitchell had a huge opportunity in front of goal but missed finishing it.
RBNY II got another chance on a free kick in the 60th minute that went through the defenders but was scooped up by Marks as the stalemate continued, but not for long. Still looking for their first shot, Union II proved it is about quality, not quantity.
In the 63rd minute, Griffin made a great cross to Harrington, who blasted the header into the net to put Union II up 1-0 on their first shot of the day. It was Harrington’s first goal for Union II and Griffin’s first assist on the season.
More substitutions came in the 65th minute for Union II. Unsurprisingly, Jakupovic came off given his minutes the previous night. He was replaced by John Ruf. Nehan Hasan also replaced Ferreira.
Marks made another great save in the 74th minute on Nate Worth’s shot, which was followed shortly after by a cross from Ruf to LeBlanc, whose shot went over the goal. Ruf then saw another chance in the 80th minute that would not prove fruitful. Harrington would have another shot in the 82nd minute that went wide.
Timo Mendoza subbed on for LeBlanc in the 84th minute as Union II were looking to hold on in such a tight match. RBNY II also made substitutions that would be important later, bringing on Paul Sokoloff and Aimar Modelo.
With four minutes of stoppage time to go, Union II were doing everything they could to hold the scoreline. Marks punched out the ball on a corner, and then the defense cleared out the ball on the rebound. Marks was shown a yellow for time-wasting as he tried to settle things.
Unfortunately, Red Bull II finally got their equalizer when Union II’s defense had a bit of a breakdown with about a minute of stoppage left. Mijahir Jiménez—a thorn in Union II’s side having scored both goals in that 2-0 loss in 2025—made a pass to Sokoloff in front of goal. The 16-year-old then put it past Marks to make it 1-1. With how many chances they had had in the match, but Union II defending well (and having a bit of luck at times), it was an unfortunate turn of events being so close to grabbing all three points.
Mitchell just about found the game winner, but Marks made the save. Despite shouts from RBNY II for a penalty, the referee correctly called it as Marks timing it right and getting all ball. Regulation would end with it tied 1-1, sending Union II to their first penalty shootout of the season.
RBNY II went first in the shootout, sending Mitchell to lead it off. His shot was saved by Marks, though the ball came loose and rolled over toward the line, seemingly going in. However, the referee called it dead, causing RBNY II players and fans to shout in protest. Olivas then stepped up for Union II, but his shot was saved by Aidan Stokes.
For the second round, Marks once again stood tall and made the save, this time on Jiménez. Harrington followed by converting on his penalty to make it 1-0 in favor of Union II.
In the third round, RBNY II’s Cameron Harper’s shot went wide left, and Ruf buried his shot for Union II to go up 2-0.
With the match on the line in the fourth round, Sánchez converted his shot. De Paula, with a chance to win it for Union II, saw his shot saved by Stokes, and the shootout continued with it 2-1.
In the fifth round, Worth made his shot for RBNY II, and Hasan’s shot for Union II was saved, bringing RBNY II back even with their opponent, 2-2.
The sixth round saw Cadigan and Pratt both make their shots, making it level at 3-3 and sending it to a seventh and pivotal round.
Marks made the save on Modelo’s attempt, and then stepped up to the penalty spot to take his own penalty kick for a keeper-on-keeper face off. The Union II netminder, already having had an incredible match, finished it by sending his shot into the net, making it a 4-3 penalty shootout win. It was a man-of-the-match performance for Marks, who has shown both great skill and leadership.
It was also a really strong performance by the defense, anchored by Uzcátegui. Richter had mentioned earlier in the week that they needed to play compact, and when it came down to it, they did a good job of stopping threats. RBNY II ended up having 12 shots (4 on goal) to Union II’s four (1 on goal). Union II also committed 26 fouls to RBNY II’s 18, with each receiving three yellow cards, in an unsurprisingly physical match.
It was a gutsy win that, while not perfect, showcased the tenacity this young Union II squad has, and was a good response after the loss to CT United the previous week. They now get a break from matches for a few weeks, though several players will be at youth national team camps. Union II’s next match is at home as Carolina Core make their first visit to Subaru Park on Sunday, April 12 at 3:00 PM.
Main article photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union II.
The One Team We Agree On 
Leave a comment