Philadelphia Union II Prevails in Marathon Shootout Over Chattanooga FC After Scoreless Draw

Philadelphia Union II Prevails in Marathon Shootout Over Chattanooga FC After Scoreless Draw

After a rain and lightning delay lasting just over an hour in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Philadelphia Union II emerged victorious in a dramatic 9-8 penalty shootout against Chattanooga FC, following a 0-0 draw in regulation on Saturday night.

The result earned Union II two points and kept their unbeaten streak alive with two wins and four draws through six matches. With two games in hand, they now sit fifth in the Eastern Conference.

Goalkeeper Andrew Rick was a standout performer, making five saves in regulation—including a crucial one-on-one stop—and four more in the shootout. He also netted a penalty himself. Defensive midfielder Nick Pariano delivered a dominant performance once again, scoring twice in the shootout, including the decisive 12th-round winner. Both Rick and Pariano were named Men of the Match by PSP.

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Pre-Match Context

For the first time this season, both the first team and Union II played on the road simultaneously, forcing the coaching staff to split its depth. As a result, players were only eligible to appear in one match. With the exception of Ian Glavinovich, who is recovering from surgery, both squads were otherwise healthy—although a stomach bug reportedly circulated among the team, according to head coach Bradley Carnell.

This match also marked the start of a grueling stretch for the first team: eight matches in 29 days, potentially nine if they progress in the U.S. Open Cup after Wednesday’s clash with Indy Eleven.

Union II’s Cavan Sullivan was unavailable due to first-team duty. However, Neil Pierre, David Vazquez, Isaiah LeFlore, Andrew Rick, Nick Pariano, and CJ Olney featured in this match. Regulars Sal Olivas and Eddy Davis led the attack, while Markus Anderson was not in the squad.

Chattanooga FC, an independent team atop the Eastern Conference, fielded a full-strength lineup, eager to bounce back from their first loss of the season—a 3-0 defeat to Columbus Crew 2.

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First Half Summary

Missing forwards Stas Korzeniowski and Markus Anderson, Union II lacked their usual hold-up play. While Kellen LeBlanc impressed early with his athleticism and defensive work rate, his impact faded as fatigue set in.

Chattanooga controlled the early exchanges, but Union II settled in and gained more possession midway through the half. However, the game slowed considerably in the final 15 minutes before halftime.

The absence of Cavan Sullivan and the disjointed midfield unit was noticeable. Coach Ryan Richter continues to seek the right combinations among his attacking options.

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Second Half Highlights

Each side made one change at halftime. Chattanooga brought in MinJae Kwak for Markus Nagelstad, while Union II introduced Henry Bernstein, who replaced CJ Olney and partnered Pariano as a double six. David Vazquez moved forward into a more attacking role.

In a break from recent trends, Union II held a possession advantage and completed more passes in the second half. Still, Chattanooga’s defense stood firm.

When Neil Pierre exited injured in the 84th minute, Coach Richter swiftly reorganized. Pariano shifted to right back, Wetzel to center back, and Oscar Benitez joined Bernstein in midfield. The restructured defense held strong to force a shootout.

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Penalty Shootout Drama

The shootout lasted twelve rounds, with Union II edging out Chattanooga 9-8. Both Andrew Rick and Chattanooga keeper Eldin Jakupovic scored in the 11th round before Nick Pariano converted the winning penalty and Rick saved Tate Robertson’s attempt to end the match.

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Key Takeaways

1. CJ Olney’s halftime exit may be illness-related—or an indication he’s being saved for Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup fixture against Indy Eleven.

2. Isaiah LeFlore delivered a standout defensive performance, including a crucial 48th-minute clearance to preserve the clean sheet.

3. Rafael Uzcategui continues to show strong form at center back.

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Up Next

Philadelphia Union II will return to Subaru Park to host Columbus Crew 2 on Sunday, May 11th, with kickoff set for 3:00 PM ET.

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Match Statistics

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Starting Lineups

Philadelphia Union II (4-2-2-2)
Rick; LeFlore, Uzcategui, Pierre (Benitez 85’), Wetzel; Vazquez (Sequera 85’), Pariano; Olney (Bernstein HT), LeBlanc (Soria 76’); Olivas (Korzeniowski 68’), Davis
Average Age: 19.4

Chattanooga FC (4-3-3)
Jakupovic; Dudley (Brown 83’), Sar-Sar, Koehler, Robertson; Watson, Mendonca, Mangarov; Ancelin, Nagelstad (Kwak HT), Plougmand

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Penalty Shootout Summary