Philadelphia Union II met Inter Miami CF II on Sunday evening at DRV PNK Stadium, battling to a 2-2 draw. After a post regulation shoot out, Union II picked up an extra point away from home.
In the first half, Union II put in a solid defensive shift to start the game, holding strong against an early Miami press. Miami found their breakthrough in the 27th minute, when forward Lorenzo D’Agostini was able to fight for a gritty header in the box and put the side up 1-0.
Union II took seconds to respond after going down 1-0. Midfielder Maike Villero calmly dictated the pace coming out of the kick off, and curled a shot into the top corner from outside of the box, giving Miami goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos no chance at making a stop.
In the 33rd minute, Lorenzo D’Agostini once again threatened in a scoring position, but Union II goalkeeper Holden Trent made himself big and shut down the attacking move to keep the score level at 1-1. Philadelphia then nearly went up in the 37th minute, when defender Juan Castillo sent a freekick just inches over the crossbar. Goalkeeper Holden Trent’s three first half saves proved instrumental in Union II preserving the level scoreline into the halftime break.
Coming out of the half, goalkeeper Holden Trent came up big once again for Union II, diving to stop a sure goal from close range in the 49th minute. Then ten minutes later, Trent was forced into action again, making another key close range stop to continue his outstanding night, getting the better of Miami forward Lorenzo D’Agostini for his fifth save of the match.
In the 76th minute, Union II took the lead for the first time in the match, when forward Stefan Stojanovic left no doubt, sending a powerful shot into the net to put the side up 2-1 for his third MLS NEXT Pro goal of the season. Miami midfielder Lucas Meek equalized in the 81st minute after jumping on a rebound after another Holden Trent save to tie up the match at 2-2.
Goalkeeper Holden Trent made a number of key saves to finish off the match, upping his save tally to nine to send the match to a post regulation shootout. Trent made a key save in the shootout and all four Union II takers converted from the spot to earn the shootout victory and bring back two hard fought points from Miami.
Philadelphia Union II are back at Subaru Park on Sunday, May 21 (3:00 p.m. ET) where they play New England Revolution II.
