Union II grouped with Hartford, Pittsburgh, Red Bulls II and Loudoun United for return to play

The Philadelphia Union II will play 11 more games against regional opponents Hartford Athletic, Loudoun United, New York Red Bulls II and Pittsburgh Riverhounds in Group F for the USL Championship’s return to play.

The top two teams from the group will advance to the USL Championship playoffs. Union II will play four additional games against unannounced regional opponents not in Group F, which will likely be Indy Eleven, Louisville City, North Carolina FC and Charlotte Independence.

Union II will resume the season at a date to be announced with 1 point in the standings from a scoreless draw at home against Loudoun United on March 7. New York Red Bulls II lost their season opener and Hartford and Pittsburgh did not play before the coronavirus pandemic forced the suspension of the season.

“Group F is going to be a great group with each team having different strengths,” Union II head coach Sven Gartung said in a news release. “Red Bulls II and Loudoun County are very similar to us in that they are young, and we are excited to test our best young talent against theirs. Hartford is a very experienced team and they are led by a very good coach in Radhi Jaidi, who played many years in the Premier League and coached in a the highly regarded Southampton youth system. Their experience presents a unique challenge for us but it is something that we are ready to take on. Pittsburgh is a very well-run organization and are led by Bob Lilley, a coach that I greatly respect. When you watch them on tape, they are a very organized team that is tough to breakdown and that come from Lilley’s experience coaching this game.”

Union II/Bethelehem Steel FC has a 7-11-8 all-time record in matches against their Group F opponents.