FC Delco U19s look to go out with MLS Next Cup in Sunday’s final

After falling on penalties in the quarterfinal last year and the semifinal the year before, the FC Delco 2004 team has a chance to add another star above the club’s iconic crest in the MLS Next Cup final Sunday morning.

FC Delco will play New England Revolution in the final kicking off at 9 a.m. eastern time in Frisco, Texas. The Revs are looking to earn a second straight U-19 title in the third year of the knockout cup formatted competition.

“We’d love to finish everything off on a good note,” said Malachi Neal, who recently graduated from Westtown School and is headed to the University of Pennsylvania. “We’ve been together so long and we’ve done so many things together. This experience is something that none of us will ever forget.”

FC Delco has won seven US Youth Soccer national championships on the boys side but it’s been 20 years since its last national title. National championships have also come on the girls side in US Club Soccer (2002, 2009, 2010), U-23 men (2005) and the Super Y League (U-16 boys in 2001).

“We all love to represent the badge,” Neal said. “Being from Philadelphia we get that Philly grit label placed on us and we uphold that, we go to battle every game while wearing that FC Delco badge and we enjoy that.”

Head coach Matt Poole said the team’s ability to overcome adversity has been a key component to their run to the final this year.

They won the first game on penalties over Springfield SYC, beat San Francisco Glens 2-1 in the Round of 16, South Florida Football Academy 3-2 in the quarterfinals and Weston FC 1-0 in the semis.

“They’ve played a lot of high level games together,” Poole said. “I think their two previous years in the MLS tournament has been a good experience and this year they’ve been able to do a little better and make it to the final.”

Poole said it will be important after the initial anxiety that’s normal in the final for his group to settle in and just play their game.

“If we can just play to an optimal level we can win,” Poole said. “It’s a great group of guys and they’ve just been fantastic to work with.”

Sunday’s final will stream live on MLS Season Pass.