Saturday evening brought along the biggest game in Union II history as they traveled to Texas for the MLS Next Pro Cup Final. The young road side were looking to finish off an incredible and historic season with some silverware, however, standing in their way was Western Conference Champions North Texas SC.
Marlon LeBlanc named an unchanged side for the MLS Next Pro Cup Final, with this being the 3rd time on the bounce that he named the same starting lineup. Markus Anderson and Eddy Davis keep their inform partnership alive upfront, while Gavin Wetzel keeps his place as the team’s starting right back.
The opening 10 minutes couldn’t have been more perfect for Union II. From the off, Philly were quick out the gates and put pressure on the North Texas goal. 8 minutes in and Union II found their opening goal through Markus Anderson. Neil Pierre played a perfect ball out to the left wing and the ball was pumped into the box, after a few touches and bounces, the ball fell to Gavin Wetzel, who laid it into Markus Anderson and the forward’s finish somehow went over Collodi’s hand and into the back of the net.
Union II continued their dominance right from the games restart after their opening goal, with North Texas looking rattled to start the game and find themselves down after 8 minutes. It wasn’t long until Union II managed to double their lead through the team’s top goalscorer on the season, Eddy Davis III.
After a ball through to the striker bounced off a North Texas center back, Davis picked the ball back up and drove at the defenders. He managed to open an opportunity for himself and fired the ball past Collidi to complete an incredible opening 20 minutes.
Union II took their foot off the gas a little after this 2nd goal went in and they were lucky at times not to concede. One moment saw Frankie Westfield push a North Texas player over in the box, but surprisingly, the referee didn’t point to the spot. The biggest chance for the hosts fell to Nico Gordon when he should have buried his header past Andrew Rick from very close range but he hit it straight at the Philly goalkeeper.
Union held on to their 2-goal lead and at the start of the 2nd half Marlon LeBlanc made a change up top. Goalscorer Markus Anderson was replaced by Sal Olivas, reuniting the forward partnership that started the season for Philly. In contrast to the 1st half, Philly started the 2nd half slow and sluggish and it cost them dearly.
5 minutes into the 2nd half, North Texas had a free kick from range. Logan Farrington took the set piece and fired it low at the goalkeeper’s side. Andrew Rick tried to dive for the shot but couldn’t reach it and the ball sneaked into the bottom corner. Personally, I think Rick should have saved it but either way North Texas had a goal back.
Union II had a golden opportunity just after North Texas’ first goal to take back their 2-goal advantage and go 3-1 up. Cavan Sullivan had a chance within 10 yards of the goal, but he hit his strike at the goalkeeper when he really should have scored. This would come back to haunt Union II mere minutes later.
In and around the 70th minute, North Texas were piling on the pressure and Union II looked like they were there for the taking and Enes Sali proved it when he fired in at the back post from a cross to tie the game and put Union II in an eerily similar situation to the senior teams MLS Cup Final against LAFC a few seasons back.
Things just kept going from bad to worse for LeBlanc’s men, they couldn’t find a foot in the game and then they went down to 10 men when center back Olwethu Makhanya brought down a North Texas forward as he was bursting through, 1-on-1 with Andrew Rick Jr.
LeBlanc kept making changes to his side to try and keep them in it, especially after finding themselves down to 10 men. Carlos Rojas came on alongside Jose Riasco with 10 minutes to play to give the side some fresh legs and a bit of defensive reinforcement from Rojas after Makhanya’s red card.
It looked like the game was heading to extra time but in the first minute of stoppage time, the unthinkable and heartbreaking happened. Pondeca rand down the right wing and put a ball across the Union II box, which found Pedrinho in the middle of the 6-yard box all by himself and the winger cleverly flicked the ball into the bottom corner to break Union II hearts and win North Texas the MLS Next Pro Cup.
Union II’s incredible and historic season ended in the most typical Philly way, in complete and utter heartbreak and disappointment. It looked like they were in complete control and on their way to lifting the trophy but a complete 2nd half collapse and a heartbreaking last-minute goal completely stopped it.
The players, the staff, and Marlon LeBlanc should all be proud of themselves and each other once the hurt and emotions run their course over the next few days and weeks. While it’s a disappointing end to the season, the season truly was incredible in so many ways.
From finishing 2nd in the Eastern Conference, to fielding the youngest team in the entire league, to breaking all sorts of records, and signing multiple young stars to homegrown contracts, the squad should hold their heads high and use this heartbreaking loss as motivation for winning it all next season.
Before I finish the final article of the 2024 MLS Next Pro season for Union II, I wanted to say, as a personal note, a thank you to everyone who has supported and read our Union II coverage this season and the past 2 seasons as well. Without you guys, we’d not be here, so thank you and, here’s to the upcoming offseason chaos!
Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
