SALT LAKE CITY— It was an eventful day in Utah as all three Philadelphia Union Academy squads competing in the MLS Next Cup playoffs were in action on Sunday, with it being the second day for the U-15s and the first for the U-16s and U-18s. The Union squads had positive results all around as they push forward in the playoffs.
U-15 squad (in U-16 bracket)
Playing in the U-16 bracket, the Union’s U-15 squad emerged victorious in their opening match of the MLS Next Cup playoffs on Saturday. Taking on Global Football Innovation Academy, the match was in a deadlock until Almamy Barry scored the winning goal in second half stoppage time. Barry joined the Union recently, being an impactful player in the Snow Bowl before officially signing, and is highly touted.
The victory sent them on to the round of 16 to face Sacramento Republic FC on Sunday. After conceding first, the Union found the equalizer with a goal by Kai Simmonds. They gave up a second goal, but Jude Larbi leveled it once again to make it 2-2. They never looked back as they went on to score two more goals, including an olimpico by Troy Raneses, besting Sacramento Republic 4-2.
They now get a day off and move on to the quarterfinals against FC Bay Area Surf on Tuesday at 12:30 PM MT (2:30 PM ET).
U-16 squad (in U-17 bracket)
The Union’s U-16s took on FC Dallas in the opening round of the playoffs. After a stalemate in the first half, Philadelphia exploded for five goals in the second half, winning 5-1. Timoni Gbalajobi opened the scoring in the 47th minute, followed by Abdoulaye Diop in the 49th.
Theophilus Hallie scored for FC Dallas in the 69th minute, but the Union answered with goals from Chris Thompson (79′), Liam Holtzman (80′) and Logan Huffman (86′).
They will face Albion SC San Diego in the Round of 16 on Monday at 10:15 AM MT (12:15 PM ET).
U-18 squad (in U-19 bracket)
Capping off a busy Sunday, the Union’s U-18s went to battle with Blau Weiss Gottschee. The starting lineup consisted of Alex Smith in goal, a back line of Mateo Gallegos, Nick Greer, Andrew Craig, and Jett Harrison, defensive midfielders Timo Mendoza, Lennon Harrington, attacking mids Nehan Hasan and Tyler Gladstone, and strikers Erik Guzman and John Ruf. Hasan and Ruf had played the day prior with Union II, but only part of that match. The heroes of that match, Theo Reed and Matheus De Paula,were on the bench. Reed had played the full 90, while De Paula had played 61 minutes.
For Harrington, it meant facing off against his former club, which was also the former club of ex-Union and current Houston Dynamo midfielder Jack McGlynn.
Guzman got the Union on the board with a goal in the first half after receiving a cross from Hasan.
John Ruf then scored in the second half after getting past the BWG keeper to make it 2-0. Several substitutions were made in the match as Gunnar Graham, Ronan Sullivan, Matheus De Paula, and Brett Seemuller came on for Ruf, Hasan, Guzman, and Gladstone, followed by Theo Reed for Mendoza and Max Owusu-Antwi for Gallegos.
The Union allowed a second half goal, but goalkeeper Alex Smith made several massive saves to preserve the lead, including on the last shot. They will play Real Salt Lake on Monday at 5:00 PM MT (7:00 PM ET) in the Round of 16.
Main article photos courtesy of the Philadelphia Union Academy
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