Saturday evening brings along the conclusion on the 2024 MLS Next Pro season and specifically, Philadelphia Union II’s incredible and historic 2024 season. They head on the road to Texas, their first road game of the postseason, to take on the Western Conference giants North Texas SC in the MLS Next Pro Cup.
Union II vs North Texas SC preview
Marlon LeBlanc has worked absolute wonders over the 3 years he’s been in charge of Union II. He’s managed to lead the youngest side in the competition to the playoffs 3 times on the bounce, taking them all the way to the Cup Final this season. It would be a fitting accomplishment for all the players, staff, and Marlon himself, if they were to beat the FC Texas tied side and lift the MLS Next Pro Cup.
Last weekend, in front of a record Union II crowd at Subaru Park, LeBlanc’s side absolutely demolished the two-time Eastern Conference champions and the one-time MLS Next Pro champions Columbus Crew 2. Markus Anderson got a brace in the 4-0 smash job that saw Cavan Sullivan add a goal to his tally, and Frankie Westfield fired in, what could possibly be goal of the season.
With so much uncertainty surrounding the club right now, from serious questions and lack of belief in ownership, to the shocking firing of Jim Curtin, Union II has provided the fans with constant stability and positive belief that reminds them why they’re Union fans in the first place, that the club can still be what it’s always been, especially over the past few years.
Standing in the way of Philadelphia and the MLS Next Pro Cup is North Texas SC. After finishing the season with the best record in the league, 16-4-8 and 62 points to their name, North Texas SC didn’t stop there. The Western Conference Champions have yet to lose at home, which is where this final will be played, and in their past 4 home games they’ve scored 18 goals, including comprehensive postseason wins against Whitecaps FC 2, Tacoma Defiance, and St Louis II.
While Union II have been scoring for fun at times this season, they’ll be coming up against arguably the best goalkeeper in the league in Michael Collodi. He was voted MLS Next Pro Goalkeeper of the year, was 1st in goalkeepers for wins, ranked 2nd in save percentage, ranked tied first for clean sheets, and also ranked in the top 3 for games played, started, and total minutes. He only conceded 28 goals in his 23 games and will be looking to prove why he’s the best against the best the Eastern Conference has to offer.
Alongside Collodi, who was obviously part of the MLS Next Pro best XI, was his North Texas teammate Nico Gordon. Nico is a player I know well as he came through my team’s academy over here in the UK, Birmingham City. Nico always had all the talent in the world but never had the right attitude, so he was released, where he signed up with North Texas. Since he crossed the pond, Nico has shown his talent once again, becoming one of the best defenders in the league.
The game is set to kickoff at 8:30pm ET in Texas. If you aren’t making the long trip over to see the game, then the Union are running a watch party at Union Yards, with doors opening at 7:30pm ET, an hour before kickoff. If you can’t make it to either then the game will be streamed on Apple TV via an active MLS Season Pass subscription. Come on Union II, do it for yourselves, and do it for HT13.
Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images
