Philadelphia Union Academy enjoyed a nearly perfect weekend as all five MLS NEXT squads competed in back-to-back matches in league play.
History made at WSFS Bank Sportsplex on Sunday
After picking up a perfect sweep on the road at Bethesda SC the day before, the Baby Snakes christened the opening of the Widener University turf fields at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex with four wins on their new home turf against Baltimore Armour. U17s forward Diego Rocio bagged the first goal in the complex’s history, positioning himself perfect inside the box to win possession and fire it past the keeper late in the second half. Cavan Sullivan put the match away with a conversion from the penalty spot to seal the first win at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex for the U17s via a 2-0 margin.
The U16s and U15s followed the action with 2:30PM kickoffs in windy conditions off the Delaware River. The cool temperatures couldn’t stop the U15s as Malik Jakupovic netted a first-half hat trick to power the U15s to a 4-0 lead going into the break that ultimately proved to be the final score. The U16s faced adversity in the opening half but weathered the storm for a 0-0 scoreline going into the break. Gabriel Wesseh notched the opening goal early in the second half but Baltimore Armour responded five minutes later to knot up the match. The visitors grabbed the lead midway through but Head Coach Guillermo Hamdan Zaragoza’s battled back with passes into the box that forced erratic tackles and a pair of penalty kick attempts from Wesseh. With ice in his veins, he went a perfect two-for-two in stoppage time to complete the comeback and lift the U16s to a resounding 3-2 victory.
While the U13s came up on the wrong end of a 1-0 setback against Baltimore Armour via a fortunate free kick finished that snuck into the back of the net. Head Coach Willy Topp’s side once again faced a very low defensive block formation from the visitors but showed promise with the ability to break down the opposition to create possible scoring chances that ultimately didn’t break through. Twice in the final minutes the U13s were on the break of an equalizer but reaction saves by the opposing keeper proved to be the difference.
Head Coach Phil Karn’s side continued to prove they are a high powered offensive side in their home debut, putting up double digit goals for the first time in 2023. Liam Holtzman and Timoni Bbalajobi led the way with hat tricks in the 10-2 victory while Collin Fulham bagged a brace in the dominant home result.
Saturday’s Strong Road Showings
The Union Academy kicked off its weekend after making the long trip south on I-95 to battle Bethesda SC at the Maryland SoccerPlex where the Baby Snakes swept the competition in league action.
The U17s continued their perfect start to 2023 with a gritty 1-0 road victory against Bethesda SC. Playing with numerous starters playing up an age group, they continued to rely on their strong defense that has yet to allow a goal after a month of regular season play.
The U16s opened their weekend with 2-0 shutout performance as Luis Olivera and Gabriel Wesseh found the back of the net in the first half to set the tone early and then locked things up defensively to record their second clean sheet in their inaugural MLS NEXT season.
Head Coach Henry Apaloo’s U15 side kept on rolling too with a 3-0 road victory to extend their unbeaten streak to five matches to start off the league season.
The U14s might have had some difficulties adjusting to the speed of the grass but were able to jump out to an early lead to continue their perfect start to the season. The squad scored twice I in the first 10 minutes which Karn described as the best team goals scored thus far as Gbalajob and Javier Linares scored. Linares added a second to his stat line but the team saw its push for a shutout ended with a penalty kick in the second half to see a 3-1 result.
The U13s made adjustments to their defensive shape on Saturday and it showed in a 2-0 victory on Saturday afternoon. Controlling the game from start to finish, the Union’s offense came from Jeremy Wesseh and Joey Schottlander.
Up Next
The Union Academy is back in action this weekend with road matches at TSF Academy and Real Jersey FC. Be sure to stay tuned to Philadelphia Union Academy’s social media channels and website for more information on matchday coverage later in the week.
