Montreal Impact’s strong academy was the big test for Philadelphia Union’s young stars last weekend.
The U13s battled to an even finish against an opponent determined to hit them on the counter. In the first half, Philly was the stronger side but could not finish off the chances they created. While this may be a tad frustrating, the ability to go on these longer road trips and still execute up to the final finishing moment will be something head coach Phil Karn will see as positive growth to build on going forward. Playing with possession always means the chance that one errant pass or touch opens you to counterattacks, and the U13s were hit by good transition attacks.