Late goal closes the door on Union U17s GA Cup run

One point would have seen the Philadelphia Union U17s advance to the Champions Division of the Generation adidas Cup and it was one point again that would have put them into the semifinals of the Premier Division.

Both were not meant to be in the 2017-18 edition of the GA Cup.

Calin Calaidjoglu found himself all alone at the far post and after chesting down a long cross from the right flank beat Kris Shakes in the 62nd minute with a rifled left-footed shot to break a 1-1 tie. The goal was enough for a 2-1 win that sent the Montreal Impact through to the semis.

Montreal scored a late goal in the first half too, grabbing the 1-0 lead just before halftime when Woobens Pacius powered his way through a couple Union defenders and got a shot off that beat Shakes to his right.

The Union equalized just after the break when Julian Anderson came up with a pinpoint deliver off a corner that center back Ian Graham put past Jonathan Sirois with a powerful header. Right back Donovan Wu earned the corner with a strong run to the end line, one of a couple long runs forward he had in the match.

Axel Picazo nearly put the Union ahead a few minutes later when he got behind the Montreal back line on a pretty give and go with Shaynder Borgelin but Sirois was able to get a foot on Picazo’s attempt and send it out for a corner kick. The chances were limited in the final half hour, especially in the final eight minutes when Montreal realized they had a lead and didn’t need to push for additional goals.

As the day shook out, the Union and Montreal ended up tied on six points and while the Union had a better goal differential, the head-to-head tiebreaker won out. Had Club Tijuana not lost 3-1 to the Colorado Rapids, the Union could have advanced through goal differential since they beat Tijuana head to head.

The U17s will now turn their attention back to the Development Academy league, where they return home to face Seacoast United on April 7.