![]() ![]() Neither Nelson Pierre nor Jose Riasco equalled the defensive effort intensely sustained by Chris Donovan last season. Some of Union II’s 2023 attackers are noticeably younger and less effective defensively. The other ten on the roster are new and include two extensive South American professional resumes, one with 70 games at Vasco da Gama in Brazil (defensive central mid Juninho) and another with 94 from Rentistas in Uruguay (left back Perez). That process is done and this year’s squad is smaller and noticeably better. Last season they were coming off an hiatus year and had a considerable number of young players to evaluate. Orlando City B is substantially different in 2023. Halftime substitute Jack Lynn scored on a feed from Acuna, and Union II were unable to answer with actual finishes in spite of creating several hopeful threats. But in the 61st minute, Orlando restored its two-goal margin after Union goalkeeper Andrew Rick made a good save from the initial corner kick play but gave up a rebound. In the 30th minute, Union II striker Nelson Pierre, a first team homegrown loaned out to Union II, freed himself and the ball into the right offensive channel next to the penalty box and found fellow teenager CJ Olney on the left for a Union II tally. In the fifth minute Orlando defender Abdi Salim calmly headed in a corner kick from Alejandro Granados, and in minute 17 a Union II failure to maintain possession in the midfield created a 3 v 1, during which outside back Franco Perez fed striker Cristofer Acuna for an equally easy score. Like the first teams’ game the night before, early in the match the visitors easily scored twice before Philadelphia began to defend more effectively. Philadelphia Union II opened its 2023 MLS Next Pro season by losing to Orlando City B 3-1. ![]()
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