Philadelphia Union II is back in MLS NEXT Pro action this weekend as they face off against Crown Legacy FC in another postseason rematch from a year ago. Tickets can be purchased online or you can view all the action with MLS Season Pass on Apple TV!
The first three months for the Boys in Blue has seen numerous stops and starts with Union II having played a league low nine matches entering the weekend. While the lack of games has Union II amongst many teams in the East and sitting in eighth place with 18 points, Head Coach Ryan Richter's squad ranks third in points per game with an even two points, just behind the pace set by league leaders Chattanooga FC and New York Red Bulls II. While the calendar has allowed for the club to have a full roster for the majority of their games, Sunday's match comes right in line with the Union Academy's start in the 2025 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. Luckily for the squad, the first team should make some players available with the Union playing Charlotte FC the night before and then having an 11-day break before MLS action resumes.
Union II had a limited squad last time they were on the pitch but it didn't hold them back at all as they took down FC Cincinnati 2 by a 4-1 margin. Forwards Eddy Davis III and Markus Anderson scored 12 minutes apart to push Union II to lead the way for Union II with Davis finding the back of the net in the 13th minute of play off Jordan Griffin's first MLS NEXT Pro assist. The Boys in Blue turned defense into offensive for the eventual match winner with Anderson forcing a turnover just outside the Cincinnati box before following his saved shot for a second-time finish.
FC Cincinnati 2 battled back with a goal early in the second half but Philly responded with substitute Giovanny Sequera scoring his second goal of the season with five minutes to extend the lead back to two goals with little time to play. 15-year-old Malik Jakopovic made the most of his professional debut too, not only seeing the field for the first team in league play but finding the back of the net for a debut he'll never forget.
The second team affiliate of Charlotte, Crown Legacy is three points behind Union II in the standings with 15 points accumulated through 11 games. Their performances have been quite similar whether playing in front of their home supporters or not with a 1-2-2 road record compared to a 2-2-2 at home. Crown Legacy come to Subaru Park off a 5-2 home loss to Red Bulls II where they battled back with two goals late in the first half to take a tie into the locker room but couldn't sustain it in the second half. That result marked just the third game in 2025 that Crown Legacy had a game decided by more than one goal too so fans can expect a tight affair on Sunday night.
