The Philadelphia Union Academy teams take two out of three from Red Bulls

The New York Red Bulls Academy came to town on Saturday for an important set of games with postseason implications at YSC Sports.

U-18s

The U-18s started the action-packed day with a 3-0 win over the first place Red Bulls. Sebastian Elney, who has a cast on his right arm, opened the scoring in the 11th minute with his head off a cross from John Schroeder. Derrick Amaniampong (aka Derrick Jones) and Zach Perez added goals in the 65th and 75th minutes.

Goalkeeper Cameron Keys made an acrobatic save at the death to preserve the clean sheet for the Union and secure a critical three points that moved the Union two points clear of Bethesda-Olney into fourth place in the Atlantic Division and the seventh wild card spot for the upcoming Development Academy playoffs.

Amaniampong, Elney, Conor Bradley, Shane Bradley, Oliver Calvo, Will Campbell, Kevin Carvalho, Morgan Hackworth, Keys, John Schroeder and Auston Trusty were in the starting XI. Mohamed Conde (65'), Freeman Dwamena (90'), Tarik Gazko (46'), Yosef Samuel (90') and Perez (75') came off the bench.

The team hosts D.C. United at 11 a.m. on Saturday for its final regular season game.

U-16s

The U-16 team stormed out of the gate using their speed to exploit the Red Bulls back line from the opening whistle, resulting in a Raheem Taylor-Parkes goal off a rebound from a corner in the game's second minute. Taylor-Parkes had another chance as he broke past the defense minutes later, but Red Bulls goalkeeper Xavier Kennedy denied him the early brace.

Taylor-Parkes and strike partner Justin McMaster continued to give the defense fits through most of the first half, but the chances never materialized into a second goal as Jeanpaul Marin scored a goal against the run of play on a defensive breakdown in the Union back line to even the score in the 23rd minute.

Ryan Mingachos added a second goal for the Red Bulls in the 52nd minute that held up as the winner for a Red Bulls team that ran their record to 22-1-2. The Union at 21-3-1 now sit four points behind the Red Bulls with one game to play.

Andrew Aprahamian, Robert Campbell, Lamine Conte, Joseph DeZart, Mark McKenzie, Justin McMaster, Josue Monge, Matthew Real, Jack Skahan and Raheem Taylor-Parkes were in the starting XI. Anthony Fontana (67'), Tiger Graham (57'), Dawson McCartney (73'), Jerren Nixon (57') and Alexander Soto (57') came off the bench.

The U-16s finish up regular season play hosting D.C. United at 1 p.m. this Saturday at YSC Sports.

U-14s

Nicholas Liddy's goal off a failed clearance from a corner in stoppage time gave the U-14s a 2-1 victory over the Red Bulls in the last game of the day. Iverson Brisma opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a goal you have to see to believe for the Union (fortunately TM3 Media has video from the game), but Jack Valderrabano equalized for the visitors in the 60th minute to set up the dramatic finish.

Brenden Aaronson, Iverson Brisma, Carlos dos Santos, Carter Emack, Kevin Escobar, Chad Letts, Rayshaun McGann, Michael Pellegrino, Nykolas Sessock, Andrew Taber and Fimmbarr Teah were in the starting XI. Daniel Bloyou (52'), Christian Contreras (41'), Giovani Jimenez (52'), Seth Kuhn (41'), Nicholas Liddy (65') and Cole Turner (55') came off the bench.

The U-14s host their final home game of the season on Saturday at 3 p.m. against Match Fit Academy FC before traveling to play three games in the U-14 showcase in Westfield, Indiana June 19-22.