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Derrick Jones Amaniampong has played in more of a defensive role this season for the Union Academy U18 team, but he made a huge offensive contribution on Saturday against DC United.
Trailing 1-0 after a 19th minute goal by Lucas Mendes, Jones Amaniampong headed home a cross sent back into the box off a rebounded free kick and leveled the game, which ended 1-1.
U18 Academy player Derrick Jones' goal against @DCUyouth #doop pic.twitter.com/cWjbVMiTlC
— Phila Union Academy (@PhilaUnion_Acad) November 8, 2015
The goal was his second of the season. The U18s improved to 7-1-2 on the season, but still sit in second place behind New York Red Bulls in the Atlantic Division standings (standings are arranged by points/game played instead of total points).
The starting XI for the Union included Auston Trusty making his first start since returning from the U-17 World Cup -Jones Amaniampong, Robert Campbell, Lamine Conte, Joseph DeZart, Frederick Gil, Jerren "J.J." Nixon, Emmanuel Perez, Yosef Samuel, Michael Swift and Andrew Verdi. Alexander Soto, Raheem Taylor-Parkes and Abu Winter came on as substitutes.
U16
Kalil ElMedkhar scored the lone goal of the game just after halftime to lead the U16s past DC United 1-0. The goal was ElMedkhar's third of the season and second game-winner.
The starting XI for the game included Andrew Aprahamian, ElMedkhar, Anthony Fontana, Darius Lewis, Justin McMaster, Byron Joseu Monge, Patrick Murphy, Benjamin Ofeimu, Kurtis Orrson, Matthew Real and Tomas Romero.
Real and Romero filled in from the U18 team since the U16s were without Brenden Aaronson, Seth Kuhn, Rayshaun McGann, Issa Rayyan, Nykolas Sessock and Carlos dos Santos. All six players were away at a U.S. U15 training camp.
U14
Jason Aoyama scored the eventual game-winner in the 11th minute and added a second goal in the 72nd minute to lead the U14s to a 3-0 win over Lehigh Valley United on Sunday.
Matthew Myers added a goal in the 82nd minute to round out the scoring. Ayoama is now tied with Michael McKeown for the team lead in goals with eight. Myers' goal was his first of the season.
The starting XI for the match included Ayoama, Obafemi Awodesu, Daniel Bateman, Nicholas Blacklock, Kenyatta Collins, Eoin Gawronski, Brendan Hasson, Michael McKeown, Michael Pellegrino, John Wagner and Jack de Vries. Benjamin Bender, Liam Cummings, Evan Lamarca, Matthew Myers, Maxwell Owens, Cole Turner and Donovan Wu came off the bench.
Up Next
The U18 and U16 travel to Whippany, New Jersey to take on New York Red Bulls on Saturday, November 14. The U18s play at noon and the U16s at 2:30 p.m. The U14s have the weekend off before hosting Continental FC DELCO on Saturday, November 21, at 3 p.m.