The stage is set.
The 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Cup will bring another historic season to a thrilling conclusion as North Texas SC and Philadelphia Union II battle for the right to crown themselves as champions.
Let's dive in, shall we?
The match kicks off Saturday at 8:30 PM ET on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
North Texas SC
The job here is simple: protect home turf.
NTSC aim to become the first team in league history to complete an entire campaign unbeaten at home.
"I think it's a special moment," interim head coach Michel Garbini told MLSNEXTPro.com of the feat at large. "When you're talking about a professional level, it's very hard."
While it may be hard, they've had a habit of making it look easy throughout the 2024 season. Their dominant 62-point tally in the regular season topped the Western Conference and is good for second-most in the league's record book. While playing in their native North Texas region, they trailed opponents for fewer than 200 minutes in all competitions.
"As a coaching staff, we're always looking to be perfect, especially in the last game of the season, right? Garbini posed. "We know that the game is not about being perfect but we're going to try to get as close as possible."
The plan will be to bring the same high-flying brand of soccer that's gotten them this far.
"Play our style. I don't think we need to change anything, I think we need to do what we have been doing during the season. Formation, everything, and then adjust during the game to whatever Philadelphia is doing."
That approach has worked so far in the playoffs. A healthy test in the opening round has been followed up with back-to-back dominant performances in the run-up to the Cup final.
"We have been prepared for this moment for the whole season and we're ready," added Garbini.
Regular season record: 16W-4L-8T, 6 SOW (9W-0L-5T at home)
Playoff results:
3-2 vs. Whitecaps FC 2
4-1 vs. Tacoma Defiance
3-0 vs. St Louis CITY2
Player to watch: 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Year Michael Collodi delivered a Texas-sized shift between the sticks to keep a clean sheet to win the Western Conference Final last week. Another performance like that could be the reason NTSC become the new champs.
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Philadelphia Union II
The visitors are one of only five teams to qualify for the playoffs in each of the league's first three seasons and reach their first MLS NEXT Pro Cup seeing their commitment to development bear fruit.
Players like Frankie Westfield, David Vazquez, and CJ Olney have been part of the journey every step of the way from academy youngsters to now-seasoned pros with appearances in each season.
In 2024, fresh faces Cavan Sullivan, Markus Anderson, and Eddy Davis headline a crop of youngsters that took significant steps forward at the professional level.
"We validated the project," Union II head coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "...We've stuck to our guns and what we believe, and playing the way that we want to play, and proving that you can win you can develop at the same time. And for me, that's the validation. I think if we can go out and win this one against an older and obviously really good North Texas team just puts the spotlight on it even more so."
LeBlanc further explained that if this young Union II squad wants to lift another trophy, not getting lost in the occasion will be the key.
"I'm going to reiterate that the game is still the game," he said. "The magnitude is what everybody else makes of it."
"...It's no different than any other game. We have to be consistent, I think the consistency is what helps us go out and perform week after week. We didn't win all these games by accident."
Their seven road wins on the season will be good consistency to rely on. They managed to score in all of their road matches in 2024, helping them to 59 goals in the regular season, which tied for tops in the league.
They've also found consistency in the playoffs by playing on the front foot. They have not spent any time trailing and have only given up one goal from open play.
Regular season record: 15W-9L-4T, 3 SOW (7W-6L-1T away)
Playoff results:
1-0 vs. NYCFC II
1-1 vs. Crown Legacy FC (advanced 4:3 in shootout)
4-0 vs. Columbus Crew 2
Player to Watch: Sullivan has been gaining steam in the playoffs and delivered his latest viral moment with his golazo last weekend. What's he got up his sleeve for a cup final?
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