Philadelphia Union Academy goes 2-0-1 in matches with local rival

Jerren "J.J." Nixon scored an equalizer in the 85th minute and Michael Swift nearly won it minutes later with a shot that clanged off the right goal post in the U18 team's 1-1 draw with local rivals Continental FC DELCO on Saturday.

The goal on a deflected shot from outside the 18 was the second of the year for Nixon, a tall target forward who has verbally committed to play at Virginia next fall.

Continental FC DELCO took the lead in the 23rd minute on a goal from St. Joseph's commit Dontrim Namani against his former club and Union looked lethargic offensively until a late surge that produced the equalizer and a flurry of other chances.

The Philadelphia Union Academy's starting XI for the game included Derrick Jones Amaniampong playing holding midfield; Robert Campbell, Lamine Conte, Joseph DeZart and Freeman Dwamena on the back line; Frederick Gil, Yosef Samuel and Alexander Soto in the midfield and Tiger Graham up top. Dawson McCartney, Jerren Nixon, Matthew Real, Michael Swift and Abu Winter (pictured above) came off the bench.

The familiar faces of the starting XI for the visitors included Senan Farrelly, Leon Maric, Braden Miller, Dontrim Namani, Mark Palage, Chad Poarch, Diallo Simon-Ponte, Christopher Smolyn, Charles Van Orden, Cody Wax and Ronald Williams. Andrew Stant played 33 minute off the bench.

Maric (2013-14), Wax (2012-14), Simon-Ponte (2013-14) and Namani (2013-14) are all former members of the Union Academy.

U16s

The U16s exploded for six goals against Continental FC DELCO, including four in the first half, to get back in the win column with a 6-1 victory Saturday.

Issa Rayyan opened the scoring in the 17th minute and Byron Josue Monge made it 2-0 in the 20th minute with the eventual game-winning goal. After James Simpson cut the lead in half in the 30th minute, Justin McMaster padded the lead in the 33rd minute and Rayyan made it 4-1 just before halftime.

Kalil ElMedkhar, who came off the bench in the 41st minute, added goals in the 58th and 70th minute. ElMedkhar and Rayyan are tied for the team lead in goals with 5 each and McMaster has 4. Both of Monge's goals on the season have been game-winners.

The starting XI for the Union for the match was Carlos dos Santos in goal; Rayshaun McGann, Andrew Aprahamian, Benjamin Ofeimu and Nykolas Sessock on the back line; Brendan Aaronson (pictured above), Omar Ayala, Anthony Fontana and Byron Josue Monge in the midfield and Justin McMaster and Issa Rayyan in attacking roles.

ElMedkhar, Daniel Bloyou, Evan Godfrey, Juan Infante and Seth Kuhn came off the bench.

The starting XI for the visitors included former Union Academy player Ryan Trapp (2012-15), Alexander Hajj, Alessio Marchio, Joseph Martini, Ramzi Qawasmy, Hudson Reid, James Simpson, Kevin Smolyn, Kyle Tucker, Jason Vandermark and Owen Rhydderch. Giovan Giacomo Giordano, Maxwell Graham, Nicholas Kane, Jacob Lemelin and Raimondo Partito came off the bench.

U14s

Michael McKeown had his second hat trick of the season and fourth multi-goal game - all off headers - to lead the U14 team to a 5-1 win.

McKeown leads the team with 11 goals, but had been quiet since starting the season with 7 goals in his first three games. McKeown opened the scoring in the 5th minute and Jason Ayoama, who is second on the team in goals with 9, scored to make it 2-0 with the game-winning goal in the 25th minute. After another McKeown goal made it 3-0, Continental FC DELCO's Jackson Temple scored just before halftime to narrow the lead to 3-1.

Brendan Hasson scored his first goal in DA play in the 55th minute and McKeown completed the hat trick two minutes later.

U15 and U13s

The U15 and U13 teams went 3-0-1 in Northeast Pre-Academy League play.

The U15s beat NJCSA 3-2 on Saturday and played to a scoreless draw with Continental FC DELCO on Sunday. The U13 team beat NJCSA 4-1 on Saturday and Continental FC DELCO 5-0 on Sunday.

Up Next

The U18 and U16 teams wrap up the fall season with a trip to Lakewood Ranch, Florida. The U18s will play Houston Dynamo on Dec. 3, Georgia United on Dec. 4 and FC Dallas on Dec. 6. The U16s play FC Golden State on Dec. 4, LA Galaxy on Dec. 5 and Vancouver Whitecaps on Dec. 7.

The U14s don't have a Development Academy game on the schedule until Dec. 31 at the Training Grounds outside PPL Park against Bethesda-Olney.