Philadelphia Union continued its preseason slate, picking up a 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium.
Playing on American soil for the first time in 2026, Head Coach Bradley Carnell turned to a youthful starting XI with homegrown Andrew Rick between the posts while a backline that featured Ben Bender, Olwethu Makhanya, Olivier Mbaizo and Union II center back Rafael Uzcátegui. The midfield saw Jesus Bueno with the captain's armband alongside the homegrown trio of Cavan Sullivan, C.J. Olney and Jeremy Rafanello while Stas Korzeniowski and Sal Olivas led the front line.
As the lineup took stock of their opponent Rick was called upon early under the lights, making a reaction save to deny a blast from Russell Cicerone in the seventh minute.
After a few half chances generated by the Boys in Blue, Union fans got a sight of their latest signing as Geiner Martinez took to the pitch at Al Lang Stadium in place of Makhanya.
Just before the halftime whistle Philly was inches away from breaking open the scoreboard off a quick chance. Bueno intercepted a Rowdies pass and quickly went direct with a chipped pass into the box in sync with a run by Olivas. The homegrown forward flicked a header that beat the keeper but crashed off the post to keep the game deadlocked heading into the break.
The lineup remained unchanged at the start of the second half and quickly saw the hosts awarded a penalty kick in the 47th minute as a handball was called during a sliding attempt in the box. Just like in the first half, Rick answered the call with a full-stretch save to his right to deny Cicerone once again.
Just before the Boys in Blue made wholesale changes to the lineup, the Rowdies continued to apply pressure in search of the game's opening goal. With a corner kick chance, Tampa Bay snuck a body into the box and smashed a headed on target but Rick was quick on his toes to push it over the bar.
In the 62nd minute the rotation came from Carnell, sending on 10 new players as Rafanello shifted into a center back role. The fresh legs paid dividends as the Union's counter press forced a turnover just outside Tampa Bay's box. Lukic quickly shot it forward to Ezekiel Alladoh who backed down his man before laying it off to Alejandro Bedoya for a clinical finish.
The Boys in Blue doubled their lead eight minutes later with homegrown Frankie Westfield delivering a pin perfect cross into the box to an unmarked Danley for the 2-0 lead.
Philadelphia Union concludes its 2026 preseason next week with an Eastern Conference clash against CF Montreal on Tuesday evening. Kick off from the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex is set for 6PM ET with game coverage on PhiladelphiaUnion.com.
Union Lineup
Andrew Rick (Andre Blake, 62'); Ben Bender (Nathan Harriel 62'), Olwethu Makhanya (Geiner Martinez 31', Frankie Westfield 62'), Olivier Mbaizo (Jordan Griffin 62'), Rafael Uzcátegui (Alejandro Bedoya 62); Jesus Bueno (Jovan Lukic 62'), C.J. Olney (Danley Jean Jacques 62'), Jeremy Rafanello, Cavan Sullivan (Kellan LeBlanc 62'); Stas Korzeniowski (Ezekiel Alladoh 62'), Sal Olivas (Milan Iloski 62').
