Another Independence Blue Cross Achievement Unlock took place on Sunday evening as the Philadelphia Union battled the Columbus Crew.
Just past the hour mark with the Boys in Blue trailing by a goal, Head Coach Bradley Carnell sent on Sal Olivas for his MLS debut in place of forward Bruno Damiani.
Davis III signed with the Boys in Blue as a homegrown in Februaary after he recorded four goals, one assist and 1,265 minutes played in 20 regular season games with Union II during the 2024 season. He ranked T-4th on the club in goals, scoring his first career goal March 24 against Revolution II and setting a career-high two goals June 2 vs. Columbus II. Olivas appeared in all four MLS NEXT Pro playoff contests as the club went to its first-ever MLS NEXT Pro Cup Final. Overall, he has registered four goals, one assist and 1,531 minutes played in 25 regular season career matches with Union II over two seasons, making his professional debut on August 19, 2023 at Huntsville City FC.
Olivas became the fourth academy player to be signed to an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract on September 8, 2023. He played a key role in the Philadelphia Union U17’s 2023 Generations adidas Cup win in Bradenton, Florida, scoring in the semifinals to secure a spot in the final against FC Dallas. Following the 2023 Generations adidas Cup triumph, Olivas was called up to Mexico’s U17 Men's Youth National Team, playing in a friendly against the U18 squad of Pumas on August 5, 2023.
He will become the seventh player of Mexican nationality to appear in a First Team match in Union history, the first since 2019, as he joins Michael Orozco and Shea Salinas (2010), Gabriel Farfan and Michael Farfan (2011-13), Christhian Hernandez (2012-13), Richie Marquez (2014-18), and Marco Fabian (2019).
