Philadelphia Union Academy reopens season against familiar rival Continental FC

Brothers, classmates, friends and former teammates squared off in Conshohocken on Sunday as the Philadelphia Union Academy and Continental FC both reopened their seasons with a local derby.

In the U18 game, it was Tiger Graham with a brace to lead the Union to a 5-1 victory over younger brother Max Graham’s team. The older Graham continued his torrid goal-scoring pace with two second half goals to bring his season total to 17.

Defender Mark McKenzie opened the scoring in the 37th minute for the visitors and Darius Lewis also had a goal for the Union in the second half. A 62nd own goal rounded out the scoring for the Union while Gabriel Ivins had the prettiest goal of the day for Continental in the 68th minute, a long range strike from near the edge of the 18 that beat goalkeeper Jahmali Waite.

The game was the first official league match of 2017 for the two teams, but many of the Union players featured in the game have spent significant time training and playing for Bethlehem Steel FC in their preseason. Justin McMaster, Josue Monge, Waite, Dawson McCartney, McKenzie, Freeman Dwamena, Evan Godfrey and Lewis all played on Sunday having already made appearances for Steel in preseason games. Midfielder Brenden Aaronson made his U18 debut when he checked into the game in the 62nd minute.

On the Continental side, goalkeeper Aaron Schwartz was forced to make several saves from point blank range to keep the home side in the game as the Union sent waves of attacks in the second half. The Dartmouth commit was one of several players on the field for Continental who share a classroom with Union players at YSC Academy, a feature that adds to the intrigue of the rivalry between the two youth clubs.

With the win, the Union U18s improved to 10-2-1 on the season while Continental fell to 3-8-3.

As it was in their first meeting in the fall, the U16 game was a tight affair that saw the Union twice come back from one-goal deficits to win 3-2.

Jeremy Rafanello opened the scoring for Continental with the first of two goals on the day in the 9th minute, but nine minutes later Sean Smolyn put things on level terms with an equalizer against his former club in his debut for the Union U16s.

Tied 1-1 at the break, Rafanello again put the home side up with a 60th minute strike but back-to-back goals from Oluwaola-ayo Ogunwale and Aziz Saidi in a minute span handed Continental a second straight heartbreaking loss to the Union. Rafanello, who has verbally committed to Drexel, has a team best 11 goals.

For the Union (7-3-3), the win helped them stay within striking distance of Atlantic Division leaders Baltimore Armour and evened Continental FC’s record at 6-6-2 on the year.

The Union U14s won 4-1 behind first half goals from William Burnett, Zephyn Brockert-Kress and Adam Lenges and a second half strike from Tianshuo Yang. Noah Reid scored the lone goal for Continental in the 70th minute.

Jack Roberto canceled out a 26th minute goal from Luc Mikula to give the Union U13s a 1-1 draw. The U12 games ended in a 1-1 draw and a 3-1 win for the Union. Marcello Mazzola converted a penalty kick in the 32nd minute after an own goal in the 17th in the first game. In the second game, Nelson Pierre had a brace and Ian Abbey added a goal for the Union while Ethan Williams found the lone goal for Continental.

Grid View

• RC Williams moves the ball out of the back for Continental FC Matt Ralph
• Josue Monge controls the ball Matt Ralph
• Giacomo Giordano starts the counter for Continental FC Matt Ralph
• Continental FC goalkeeper Aaron Schwartz clears the ball Matt Ralph
• Defender Isaiah Holquist tries to shake a Continental FC player Matt Ralph
• RC Williams looks to cross the ball with Dawson McCartney defending Matt Ralph
• Defender Freeman Dwamena dribbles out of the back Matt Ralph
• Justin McMaster controls the ball Matt Ralph
• Defender Brandon Golden passes the ball back from the left wing Matt Ralph
• Giacomo Giordano Matt Ralph
• Gabe Ivins celebrates his 68th minute goal Matt Ralph
• Josue Monge and Giacomo Giordano battle for position Matt Ralph
• Max Graham controls the ball with Freeman Dwamena defending Matt Ralph
• Tiger Graham looks to make a move with Ramzi Qawasmy defending Matt Ralph
• Ramzi Qawasmy Matt Ralph
• Kevin Smolyn looks to make a pass forward Matt Ralph
• Juan Infante clashes with Union defender Evan Godfrey Matt Ralph
• Gabe Ivins celebrates his 68th minute goal Matt Ralph
• From left, Justin McMaster, Dawson McCartney and Juan Infante Matt Ralph
• Tiger Graham and Aaron Schwartz Matt Ralph
• Nicholas Kane Matt Ralph
• Max Graham on the ball Matt Ralph
• Darius Lewis gets the ball past a diving Aaron Schwartz Matt Ralph
• Darius Lewis takes a shot Matt Ralph
• Ramzi Qawasmy controls the ball with Darius Lewis pressuring Matt Ralph
• Justin McMaster Matt Ralph
• Mark McKenzie Matt Ralph
• Tiger Graham leaps over goalkeeper Aaron Schwartz after he made the save Matt Ralph
• Alexander Hajj controls the ball Matt Ralph
• Mark McKenzie absorbs pressure Matt Ralph
• Dawson McCartney Matt Ralph
• Omar Ayala Matt Ralph
• Ammit Bhogal fights off Brenden Aaronson Matt Ralph
• Omar Ayala wins the header Matt Ralph
• Dawson McCartney looks to make a move on Juan Infante Matt Ralph
• Alexander Hajj Matt Ralph
• Patrick Murphy looks to send a ball into the box Matt Ralph
• Ammit Bhogal Matt Ralph
• Brenden Aaronson looks to make a pass Matt Ralph