Loudoun United FC's Wesley Leggett scored a pair of first-half goals in his side's 4-4 draw against the Philadelphia Union on Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania. | Photo courtesy Loudoun United FC
CHESTER, Pa. – Wesley Leggett scored a pair of goals and drew a penalty kick as Loudoun United FC showed an attacking spark as the side played to a 4-4 draw against the Philadelphia Union on Sunday afternoon at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex.
The Union took a first-half lead WSFS Bank Sportsplex early when former USL League Two standout Stas Korzeniowski found the back of the net with a shot inside the box, but Loudoun responded from the spot when Leggett drew a penalty that was put home by Keegan Tingey.
Leggett then added a pair of goals to put United on top at the halftime break, giving him three goals so far this preseason.
After United made changes for the second half, the Union rallied to level the game behind goals from Jeremy Rafanello and Jesus Bueno. A trialist put Loudoun back ahead before Cavan Sullivan scored a late goal to leave the game all square.
NEW MEXICO UNITED 6, FC JUAREZ 0: McKinze Gaines scored a pair of goals as New Mexico United took a comprehensive victory against FC Juarez as it headed for a contest across the Mexican border for the first time in its history.
Gaines opened the scoring midway through the first half with a volleyed finish before Greg Hurst was brought down in the penalty area six minutes before halftime and converted with a powerful shot to the bottom-left corner. New Mexico added to its lead two minutes later when Talen Maples headed in a corner kick from the left by Mukwelle Akale to send the side to the break three goals to the good.
United continued its scoring run early in the second half as Gaines notched his second three minutes after the break before Tomas Pondeca scored in the 52nd minute. Akale wrapped up the scoring with four minutes to play, adding to his earlier assist.
CHARLESTON BATTERY 2, NORTH CAROLINA FC 0: Arturo Rodriguez scored the opening goal as the Charleston Battery took a preseason victory against Southern Derby rival North Carolina FC at Patriots Point on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors went close early on, forcing Battery goalkeeper Luis Zamudio into a save, before Rodriguez opened the scoring. The Mexican playmaker broke in behind the NCFC defense onto a lifted pass by Juan David Torres and lifted an arcing finish into the net as the goalkeeper came off his line.
The Battery doubled their lead six minutes into the second half when a trialist scored off a cross by Chris Allan. The trialist had the ball in the next again four minutes later, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside, but the Battery saw out the game from there to take victory.
CLUB DE FOOT MONTREAL 3, TAMPA BAY ROWDIES 1: Woobens Pacius scored a second-half goal but the Tampa Bay Rowdies fell to Club de Foot Montreal as Jules-Anthony Vilsaint scored a pair of goals at the Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale, Fla.
Tampa Bay had the first big chance of the game as Manuel Arteaga headed wide midway through the first half, but Vilsaint opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark, finishing a chance on the counterattack.
The Montreal native doubled the visitor’s lead nine minutes into the second half before Pacius – who came through Montreal’s academy system – put home a sharp finish to the bottom-left corner in the 66th minute. Montreal regained its two-goal advantage just two minutes later, however, as Sunusi Ibrahim found the net, and from there the visitors put the game away.
LEXINGTON SC 5, FC CINCINNATI 2 (0): Nick Firmino and Eliot Goldthorp each scored a pair of goals as Lexington SC swept to victory against FC Cincinnati 2 on Saturday afternoon.
Firmino put the hosts on top 20 minutes into the second half before doubling Lexington’s lead early in the second half off an assist by Marcus Epps. Goldthorp then got in on the action, adding a third before Cameron Lancaster converted a penalty kick midway through the half. Goldthorp added a fifth to round out the scoring and seal a convincing victory for the Championship newcomers.
INDY ELEVEN 3, CHICAGO FIRE FC II 0: Bruno Rendon scored a first-half goal before Romario Williams and Edward Kizza struck after the break as Indy Eleven took victory against Chicago Fire FC II at the Endeavor Health Performance Center.
The 2024 League One Defender of the Year, Rendon opened the scoring on the half-hour mark with a clean finish from the right side of the penalty area that picked out the bottom-left corner. Williams doubled the lead nine minutes into the second half as he struck a first-time finish from the top of the penalty area off a centering pass by Maalique Foster.
Kizza then wrapped up the scoring shortly after coming on at the hour-mark, following up a shot by Elliot Collier toward the bottom-right corner that was parried by the Fire II goalkeeper, leaving Kizza a simple finish on the rebound.
PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC 1, COLUMBUS CREW 2 (0): A late goal by a preseason trialist gave Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC victory against the Columbus Crew 2 in snowy conditions at Highmark Stadium on Sunday afternoon, giving the Hounds a third consecutive win to start preseason.
Pittsburgh struck in the 78th minute as Bertin Jaquesson won a high, looping ball and nudged it back diagonally with his body, setting up the trialist for a right-footed finish from 20 yards that found the net.
The Hounds were strong in possession early on, but their best early chance came by way of set piece. Robbie Mertz took a quick corner kick and found an unmarked Bradley Sample, whose firm header on goal flew into the goalkeeper’s hands. Pittsburgh also threatened seven minutes into the second half as Junior Etou delivered a low cross along the goal line that was parried by the goalkeeper, only for the rebound to go begging, but the hosts capitalized on their late chance to take victory.
LEXINGTON SC 5, FC CINCINNATI 2 (0): Nick Firmino and Eliot Goldthorp each scored a pair of goals as Lexington SC swept to victory against FC Cincinnati 2 on Saturday afternoon.
Firmino put the hosts on top 20 minutes into the second half before doubling Lexington’s lead early in the second half off an assist by Marcus Epps. Goldthorp then got in on the action, adding a third before Cameron Lancaster converted a penalty kick midway through the half. Goldthorp added a fifth to round out the scoring and seal a convincing victory for the Championship newcomers.
SAN ANTONIO FC 3, CORPUS CHRISTI FC 1: Juan Agudelo scored a pair of goals as San Antonio FC took victory against USL League Two side and 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifier Corpus Christi FC at Dugan Soccer Stadium on Saturday night.
Agudelo scored a pair of headed goals in the first half, the first coming just before the half-hour mark on an assist by Jorge Hernandez to put SAFC on top. The former United States international doubled SAFC’s lead off an assist by Luke Haakenson six minutes before the halftime break before Diogo Pacheco capitalized off a defensive giveaway to add to the lead in the 73rd minute.
Corpus Christi scored a late consolation goal with four minutes to go as it prepares for its Open Cup First Round clash on March 19.