Union II Lose MLS Next Pro Cup in 3-2 Heartbreaker After Blowing 2-0 Lead
After a promising start, Union II concedes three in the second half as North Texas claims the MLS Next Pro Cup.
Frisco, TX — After a brilliant start and a 2-0 lead over North Texas, Union II conceded three second-half goals, ultimately losing 3-2 as North Texas claimed the MLS Next Pro Cup championship.
North Texas entered the match unbeaten at home and during the regular season they lead the league in points (62), fewest goals allowed (32), and ranking second in goals scored (56). They had scored three or more goals in each of their playoff games, conceding only three goals across the matches.
Union II also had a strong regular season, achieving a club-record 52 points and tying for the most goals scored in the league (59). Throughout their three playoff games, they had only conceded one goal, allowing just two shots on target.
Head coach Marlon LeBlanc fielded the same lineup for a third consecutive match, with Andrew Rick in goal; Gavin Wetzel and Frankie Westfield as fullbacks; and Neil Pierre and Olwethu Makhanya as center backs. Nick Pariano anchored the midfield diamond, with CJ Olney and David Vazquez as the eights. Cavan Sullivan played at the top of the diamond, with Eddy Davis and Markus Anderson as the forwards.
Union II struck first in the 9th minute, with Anderson scoring from inside the 18-yard box with his right foot. Davis doubled the lead in the 18th minute, finishing a breakaway to make it 2-0. After halftime, LeBlanc made his first substitution, bringing on Sal Olivas for Anderson, who was managing knee tendonitis.
North Texas got on the scoreboard in the 51st minute with a Logan Farrington free kick. Union II then brought on Jamir Berdecio for Sullivan, switching from their 4-4-2 diamond to a 4-2-2-2 formation with Berdecio and Pariano as holding midfielders. Three minutes later, North Texas leveled the score, as Enes Sali’s goal tied it 2-2 in the 67th minute.
LeBlanc’s third substitution in the 71st minute brought Giovanny Sequera in for Davis. Union II’s Makhanya was sent off in the 75th minute after pulling down Farrington, reducing Union II to 10 men. LeBlanc then made his final substitutions in the 80th minute, bringing on forward José Riasco and center back Carlos Rojas for Olney and Vazquez.
North Texas found the game-winning goal in the 91st minute with Pedrinho scoring a spectacular back-heel flick after combination play with Herbert Endeley and Tomas Pondeca on the right side of the field.
Key Moments
Union II started strong, registering the first shot within 50 seconds, as Olney earned a corner kick. Anderson intercepted a pass from Pedrinho in North Texas’ half, giving Olney the opportunity to release a low-driven first-time shot.
Eight minutes later, Union II doubled the score with Anderson finishing after a smooth build-up starting with Pierre at the back. Pierre sent a long ball to Westfield on the left wing, who passed to Sullivan. Sullivan played a first-time cross to Vazquez at the back post, who headed it down to Anderson. After a blocked volley, Wetzel collected the ball and passed to Anderson, who then struck a low shot past Collodi for Union II’s 1-0 lead.
Union II’s second goal in the 18th minute saw Davis finishing from close range. Pierre initially won possession but had his forward pass intercepted. However, Vazquez and Sullivan pressed effectively to regain control, allowing Sullivan to pass to Olney on the left, who then found Davis. Although North Texas intercepted, a miscue allowed Davis to retrieve the ball and break through to score with a left-footed strike, putting Union II up 2-0.
Goalkeeper Rick was called into action in the 39th minute, making a comfortable save off a Nico Gordon header. Union II ended the first half outshooting North Texas 8 (4) to 4 (1) and held a solid 2-0 lead.
North Texas broke through in the 51st minute with a free kick by Farrington just below the 18-yard arc, cutting Union II’s lead to 2-1. Pierre’s foul on Farrington led to the free kick.
The home side tied it up in the 67th minute when U22 winger Sali volleyed at the back post. Endeley initiated the attack on the right, dribbling past three Union II defenders before crossing to Sali, who capitalized on a defensive lapse.
Union II’s situation worsened in the 75th minute, with center back Olwethu Makhanya receiving a red card for a foul on Farrington, who had slipped behind the backline.
Farrington took another free kick from a similar spot, but this time Rick was prepared, pushing the shot over the crossbar.
In the 91st minute, North Texas sealed the win. Pedrinho scored with a back-heeled flick, finishing a low cross from Pondeca after a sprinting play from Endeley down the right wing, ending the game 3-2.
What’s Next For Marlon LeBlanc
Marlon LeBlanc concluded his third MLS Next Pro season as Union II’s head coach, setting multiple records for the club, including most points (52), goals (59), goal differential (+18), and wins (15). LeBlanc has led Union II to the playoffs each season, but this year marked their first playoff win with a 1-0 victory over NYCFC II. Union II went on to defeat Crown Legacy in penalties (4-3) and Columbus Crew 2 with a decisive 4-0.
With Jim Curtin’s firing on Thursday, the first team needs a new head coach and some people have wondered could the Union turn their attention to Marlon LeBlanc? LeBlanc admitted after the game that he isn’t sure what the future holds for him, but one thing he is certain of is that when he left West Virginia University, he didn’t leave to come to Philadelphia to become a Union first or second team coach, he came for family.
“I don’t know what's next. I didn't know what was next when I came to Philadelphia. I certainly didn't come to Philadelphia to be a first team coach. I didn't actually come to Philadelphia to be a second team coach. I came to Philadelphia for my family. They were here, and I was coaching in college, and we were too far apart. My son was part of this project here, and if he was going to develop in this project as a professional footballer for the Union, I thought he would have a better chance of doing it if I were with him as his father and keeping that intact. That was my ambition for coming here.”
LeBlanc officially joined the Union in 2020 as a U17 coach and academy assistant. When Sven Gartung was dismissed from the second team, LeBlanc was promoted to interim coach of Union II, then competing in the USL Championship. He has played a key role in developing players like Paxten Aaronson, Matt Freese, Quinn Sullivan, Jack McGlynn, and Nathan Harriel, with his ambition evolving toward a professional soccer career. This season, with Union II winning playoff games and watching players like Cavan Sullivan, CJ Olney, David Vazquez, and Andrew Rick earn homegrown contracts, LeBlanc’s drive has only grown.
“I think my ambition obviously evolved as I began to invest time in the Paxten Aronsons, Jack McGlynns, Nate Harriels, and Quinn Sullivans—all those guys of the world—and it became a lot bigger, and the ambition changed a little bit,” said LeBlanc. “Now, as we got to make this run in these playoffs, obviously the ambition became about winning. I've told you guys over and over again, it was always about development and that we would learn how to win through that development. We did, as we got to the Eastern Conference Championship and we won that. We wanted to win this one too. And so, the ambition obviously has evolved into a whole lot more than what it originally was when I came here.”
Whatever the future holds for Marlon LeBlanc, his work with Union II has been outstanding. This season proved that winning and development can indeed go hand in hand, with Union II balancing competitive success with player growth.
Video Credit: Apple TV/Philadelphia Union II