Philly Leader

Philadelphia Union II is set to compete for the MLS NEXT Pro Cup against North Texas SC on Saturday night. The match will be held in Texas, with a watch party organized at Union Yards, where doors open at 7:30 PM ahead of the 8:30 PM ET kickoff.

Head Coach Marlon LeBlanc emphasized the importance of focusing on "the match, not the moment" as his team prepared for their journey to Texas. Throughout the 2024 season, Union II has demonstrated resilience and determination, achieving a club-record 15 wins and securing the No. 2 seed in the East.

Union II's path to the final included a comeback victory against New York City FC II and a playoff win against Crown Legacy FC. In these matches, key players like Neil Pierre and CJ Olney made significant contributions. The team also paid tribute to goalkeeper Holden Trent during their match against Crown Legacy FC.

In front of a large crowd, Union II defeated Columbus Crew 2 with three different goalscorers contributing to the victory. Markus Anderson scored twice, while Cavan Sullivan added another goal.

North Texas SC enters the final with an impressive record of 62 points from a 16-4-8 regular season. Goalkeeper Michael Collodi was recognized as Goalkeeper of the Year, leading his team with strong performances throughout the season. Alongside Nico Gordon, Collodi received MLS NEXT Pro Best XI honors as North Texas SC advanced through postseason victories over Whitecaps 2, Tacoma Defiance, and St Louis CITY2.