Philadelphia Union II extended its unbeaten streak to nine matches with a 2-0 victory over New York City FC II on Saturday evening. The match, held on Randall’s Island, saw the Boys in Blue dominate despite a goalless first half, where they had an 18-2 shot advantage.
Markus Anderson opened the scoring at the hour mark, followed by 16-year-old Malik Jakupovic netting his sixth goal of the season. Jakupovic’s goal came after he entered the game in the 67th minute for Anderson.
The team will conclude July with a match against Carolina Core FC on Wednesday, July 30th. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET and will be broadcasted on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Head Coach Ryan Richter traveled with a squad of 16 players to Manhattan. With changes required in defense due to absences in the first team, Academy amateur Jordan Griffin started as left back while Isaiah LeFlore played center back alongside Rafael Uzcátegui and Giovanny Sequera. The midfield remained unchanged from their previous win against Crown Legacy FC.
Throughout the match, Union II pushed for goals early but faced resistance from NYCFC II’s defense. In one instance, Prince Amponsah blocked an attempt by Eddy Davis III after receiving a pass from Griffin. Another opportunity arose when Davis III hit both posts following a cross from Anderson.
The breakthrough came when Anderson scored after Oscar Benitez’s headed attempt bounced into his path during a corner kick play. Later, Jakupovic sealed the victory with assistance from Jamir Johnson and Nick Pariano.
