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Seth Kuhn is known more for his passing and playmaking than he is as a goal-scorer but a brace from the recent high school graduate helped send the Philadelphia Union U19 team through to the quarterfinal of the Development Academy championship on Friday in Oceanside, California.
Kuhn, a Wyomissing, Pa. native headed to Duke University this fall, opened the scoring with his second goal of the playoffs in the 6th minute against the Colorado Rapids on Friday.
Already eliminated with losses in their first two games, the Rapids answered back through an equalizer from Corey Williams in the 37th minute. But it was Kuhn again just before halftime with the eventual game-winning goal. Nick Blacklock added an insurance goal in the 70th minute to round out the scoring in the 3-1 win for the blue and gold.
The Portland Timbers also won their final Group H match 3-1 over Shattuck-St. Mary’s but the Union had the advantage in goal differential from their 3-0 win over Shattuck St. Mary’s. The Union and Timbers tied 1-1 on Wednesday in the second game of group play.
Next up for the Union U19s is a quarterfinal match against the LA Galaxy with a trip to the national semifinal on the line. The Galaxy beat Houston Dynamo 4-0 on Friday to win Group B with a pair of wins and a draw.
Monday will mark the Union’s first appearance in the quarterfinals since the U18s lost to Players Development Academy at the Power Training complex in 2016. While in the past quarterfinals were hosted by the higher seed, the teams will all remain in Oceanside, California this year.
The semifinal and final rounds will be played at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri on July 8 and 10.
While the U19s are moving on, the Union U17 team will not be joining them after dropping both of their first two group games by 2-0 score lines to Orlando City and Barca Academy. They wrap up their playoffs against Vancouver Whitecaps today.