Academy teams go unbeaten in triple-header with rival PA Classics

The Philadelphia Union U19, U17 and U15 teams went unbeaten in three games against rival PA Classics with a pair of wins and a draw at YSC Sports on Saturday.

Jeremy Rafanello was yet again the catalyst for the U19 offense with a brace. It was the second straight game with a brace for the forward from Delran, who has scored in all five games this season and leads the team with eight goals.

Iverson Brisma opened the scoring with his second of the year in the eighth minute and Tonny Temple added his second of the season just before full time. Rafanello’s goals came in the 48th and 59th minutes.

Goalkeeper Kristopher Shakes kept a clean sheet for 75 minutes and gave way to Brady McSwain to make his Union debut finishing out the game.

The win puts the Union U19s at 5-0-0 and sets up an enticing match-up this Saturday on the road at New York Red Bulls, the current Atlantic Division leaders with an 8-0-0 record.

The U17s got a tie-breaking goal from Aboubacar Camara in the 85th minute to edge PA Classics 2-1. Center back Ian Graham opened the scoring in the 20th minute but the visitors equalized with 12 minutes to play through Griffin Garrard.

The win was the third of the season for the squad, which stayed unbeaten at 3-0-3 and like the U19s will aim to put a dent in the New York Red Bulls 8-0-0 start to the season this Saturday on the road.

The U15s twice took a one-goal lead but had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

Dante Huckaby opened the scoring in the 59th minute, but the visitors came right back with an equalizer through Quentin Hall three minutes later.

Selmir Miscic then scored his 12th of the season to give the Union the lead in the 65th minute before Benjamin Stuckert’s late equalizer stole the point for the visitors.

The U15 team’s record improved to 3-1-3 on the season and they too will be facing the first place team in the Atlantic Division on Saturday with the New York Red Bulls sitting at 7-0-1.