Philadelphia Union 1, AFC Bournemouth 4: EPL debutants take care of business in friendly

Philadelphia Union against AFC Bournemouth in a friendly, July 14, 2015

The Philadelphia Union welcomed English Premier League newcomers AFC Bournemouth to PPL Park for a Tuesday night friendly, and based on the 4-1 scoreline in favor of the visitors, it seems the English side is eager to get to work for the coming season. 


Bournemouth, set to play in the English top flight for the first time in their history, which stretches back more than a century, scored first and never relinquished their lead the rest of the night. Like Bournemouth, the Union used a mix of regulars and reserves in the midweek fixture.


Bournemouth got the scoring started in the 20th minute, as Joshua King chipped a shot over Union goalkeeper John McCarthy. The Cherries doubled their lead six minutes later when Callum Wilson buried a chance in the box.



But Philadelphia got back into the game 10 minutes before the break, as Richie Marquez headed home a cross from Sheanon Williams to cut the deficit to one. It was Marquez's first goal as a professional.

Marc Pugh restored the visitors' two-goal lead in the 62nd minute, and then drew a penalty in the 84th minute, which Tokelo Rantie successfully converted to make it 4-1.

The Union are back in action in league play Saturday against Toronto FC at BMO Field (4 pm ET, MLS LIVE in US, TSN in Canada).