Cory Burke enjoyed a breakout 2018 season for the Philadelphia Union, with the Jamaican international becoming the first-choice No. 9 on his way to scoring 10 goals and setting up another.
The tall, athletic forward had all of those goals in his first 15 starts, and picked up where he left off when he started in a preseason scrimmage against Eastern Conference rival Orlando City SC on Tuesday. He grabbed a goal and drew a penalty that strike partner Sergio Santos converted in a 4-1 victory on Tuesday as part of Preseason presented by Advocare.
Orlando City SC also rolled out a strong starting XI.
Chris Mueller opened the scoring before Burke leveled, knocking in an Ilsinho cross. Burke was then taken down by Ruan in the box, leading to Santos’ go-ahead goal from the penalty spot.
In the second 60-minute session, C.J. Sapong made it 3-1, putting away a low, driven cross into the box by Kacper Przybylko. Bethlehem Steel’s Michee Ngalina closed out the scoring, connecting on a low ball to the top of the 18-yard box by David Accam.
The Union kick off the 2019 Suncoast Invitational against the Montreal Impact Saturday, February 16 at 4 pm, while the Lions host New York City FC in the inaugural Orlando City Invitational Saturday, Feb. 16 and 7:30 pm.
Goals
- ORL - Chris Mueller
- PHI - Cory Burke
- PHI - Sergio Santos (PK)
- PHI - C.J. Sapong
- PHI - Michee Ngalina
Lineups
Orlando City SC (1st half, 5-3-2): Brian Rowe; Ruan, Shane O'Neill, Alex DeJohn, Kamal Miller, Danilo Acosta; Sacha Kljestan, Jhegson Mendez, Uri Rosell; Tesho Akindele, Chris Muller
Philadelphia Union (1st half, 4-4-2 diamond): Andre Blake; Raymon Gaddis, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Kai Wagner (Fabinho 46'); Haris Medunjanin; Alejandro Bedoya, Derrick Jones; Ilsinho; Cory Burke (Fafa Picault 46'), Sergio Santos (CJ Sapong 46')
Philadelphia Union (2nd half, 4-4-2 diamond): Andre Blake (Matt Freese); Olivier Mbaizo, Jack Elliott, Aurelien Collin, Fabinho (Matt Real); Warren Creavalle; Brenden Aaronson, Anthony Fontana; Kacper Przybylko; Fafa Picault (David Accam), CJ Sapong (Michee Ngalina)
