Union U16s draw Red Bulls in GA Cup qualifier

Daniel Bloyou scored a hat trick but the Philadelphia Union Academy U16 team failed to gain ground in the standings after a 3-3 draw and penalty kick loss in Generation adidas Cup play to the New York Red Bulls in North Jersey on Sunday.

The Union remain in fourth place with five points after four games played behind the New York Red Bulls, which picked up an extra point with the penalty kick win and now have five points through three games.

The Union also lost the penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw with New York City FC in their last GA Cup regional qualifier at the Power Training Complex in October. They lost the first game 4-1 to Atlanta United, but bounced back to beat New England Revolution 4-0 in the second game.

Atlanta United tops the standings with eight points through three games and Orlando City is in second place with six points from two games.

The Union will play the final two regional qualifiers against Orlando City and D.C. United in Florida in February. The top two teams from the region will advance to the Championship Division and the rest of the teams will compete in the Premier Division at the GA Cup finals in March. Invited international teams are seeded with MLS sides in both divisions of the competition.

The Union last advanced to the Championship Division in 2015. Argentine club River Plate have won the Championship Division the last two years.