Recap | First friendly abroad vs Sigma Olomouc

Philadelphia Union played their first opponent of 2026 on Tuesday afternoon, facing first league Czech side Sigma Olomouc at Marbella Football Center to open their schedule of friendlies abroad. 

While the 90-minute outing ended in a draw, it was a successful start to match action, with 23 players seeing meaningful minutes on the pitch against a competitive side currently playing in both their country's top league and UEFA Conference League.

"There was alot of good moments, a lot of growing moments. I just want the commitment," Head Coach Bradley Carnell remarked after the match.

"We knew it'd be a track meet, this team is very direct that played against us. We had some nice combination play. We had some good relationships building there in both groups. I thought we started the second half excellently in our little combination football down the left hand side, and then we had some moments towards the end of the game. I thought was a good overall exercise."

Carnell opted for two entirely different XIs for each half, first sending out a group featuring new faces like Japhet Sery Larsen and Ezekiel Alladoh, who played in a Union kit for the first time since signing this offseason. 2024 SuperDraft pick turned 2025 Union II standout Stas Korzeniowski was among the initial squad as well, opening scoring with a ninth-minute goal off a pass from Alejandro Bedoya. 

"I was super happy to be out there and in this beautiful weather, to be competing, to be running, to be playing at the intensity that we do, it was just such a joy.  I had a lot of fun being out there. And it just means even more to score a goal and help the team," Korzeniowski said.

First-half XI 

Andrew Rick

Ben Bender

Olwethu Makhanya

Japhet Sery Larsen

Trialist

Danley Jean Jacques

Jesus Bueno

Alejandro Bedoya

Milan Iloski

Ezekiel Alladoh

Stas Korzeniowski

Second-half XI 

Bruno Damiani

Eddy Davis III

Nathan Harriel

Jovan Lukic

George Marks

Olivier Mbaizo

Quinn Sullivan

Jeremy Rafanello

Finn Sundstrom

Indiana Vassilev

Frankie Westfield

Philadelphia Union Academy product Malik Jakupovic earned an appearance late in the match, subbing on for Eddy Davis III in the 82nd minute. 

In the second half, Nathan Harriel shined, leading his XI with the captain’s band secured on his left arm. He lined up alongside Finn Sundstrom, who played his first match in Blue and Gold as well. 

"I just enjoyed to be out there with the guys after a long month and a half off, so to come back out here with the guys and be able to compete against somebody else, hit somebody else, was a lot of fun. Everyone's super energetic, super hyped up to be out here. So the intensity from everybody is good. You can't complain about that at all," Harriel said. 

Next up, Philadelphia Union will face Milan Iloski's former club, FC Nordsjælland on Friday afternoon.