MLS Next U16: Esparza's hat trick gets Greenwood past the Rangers

The MLS Next 2025-2026 season kicked off earlier this month, with matches involving teams in the newly-renamed Homegrown and Academy divisions taking place all over the country after a two-month break following the 2024-2025 season.   Like we did last season, Prep Soccer Texas will continue to follow the teams from the Lone Star State throughout the season, covering matches and producing photos, articles and social media posts of the duels involving the most talented players from the state.   On Saturday, September 13, we were in attendance when the [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U16 team hosted Oklahoma side Tulsa Greenwood SC U16 at the Blue Ridge Park. With a strong second-half performance, Greenwood, who were admitted to MLS Next this season, secured their first-ever victory in the league, triumphing 4-2.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U16 vs. Tulsa Greenwood SC U16 - <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/09/mls-next-u16-houston-rangers-vs-tulsa-greenwood-sc-photos/">Photos</a></li> </ul>   Only one of the match's six goals was scored in the first half. It was in the 36th minute, when Greenwood's midfielder Ivan Cruz dribbled past a Rangers defender on the left side of his team's attack and fed fellow midfielder Jonathan Markland, who sent the ball into the back of the net with a tap-in.   A halftime substitute, forward Leonardo Esparza doubled Greenwood's lead four minutes after coming in with a beautiful shot in the upper corner. The Rangers fought back and scored twice in three minutes to level the score. In the 21st minute, midfielder Enrique Hernandez sent a long ball behind the backline and forward Faesol Owoade beat the defenders for it and scored. Three minutes later, Hernandez found another great pass on the final third, this time feeding forward Idrissa Djimde, who had to shoot twice to score.   The score didn't stay even for too long, though, as Esparza got his second goal of the match at the 29th minute, picking up a rebound and finding the back of the net. The forward scored the match's last goal in the 45th minute, when the ball found him at the edge of the box after a corner kick and he, again, finished very well to seal this team's victory.   The Rangers will be on the road next weekend, facing [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] in Dallas on Sunday, September 21. Greenwood will have two weeks off before playing their first home match in their inaugural season, against [program_tooltip program_id='283654' first='Global' last='Football Innovation Academy'], on October 5.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2>    The forward was pivotal in Greenwood's first-ever MLS Next victory, coming off the bench after the halftime break to score three goals and decide the match. Playing more to the right side of his team's attack, Esparza displayed great positioning inside the penalty box, frequently finding the ball after rebounds and creating passing options for his teammates. He also demonstrated excellent finishing ability, converting the three chances he had with unstoppable shots, and was able to keep the high level even when he had limited space to shoot. Esparza also did well when playing outside the penalty box, connecting well with his teammates and displaying good energy to fight for possession.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0141.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321540" /></figure>    Markland played only in the first half, but was one of the most active players on the field when he was on. Playing as a wide midfielder on the right, he got on the ball very often and was a threat to the Rangers' backline with his pace and his ability to control the ball with either foot when dribbling. Markland scored Greenwood's first goal after getting into an excellent spot inside the penalty box and finishing a cross on the far post. He also displayed great energy to run the field and down, and was very energetic when playing defense too, closing out his zone and fighting for the ball with good determination.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0013.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321498" /></figure>    Greenwood's captain, Yates led the team's backline with great efficiency from his right-sided center back position. The defender was particularly important in the second half, in a moment in which the Rangers pushed forward, displaying excellent positioning inside the penalty box to clear crosses on the ground and in the air, and making important stops. Yates was also very vocal from the backline, keeping his team organized and engaged. The defender did a great job in possesison, connecting excellent long passes out of the back, and had a strong presence in the attacking penalty box in set pieces, standing out in the air and getting some dangerous headers.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0127.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321533" /></figure>    Cruz was on the field for the first 45 minutes and had a solid shift on the left side of Greenwood's midfield. A lefty, he's very skilled on the ball and used his dribbling ability to create chances out wide, impressively beating a defender and finding Markland open on the far post with a perfectly-weighted low pass to score the team's first goal. Cruz also did well when he came inside to combine with his teammates, appearing in good spots and firing dangerous shots from outside the box. The midfielder provided great service in set pieces, taking corner kicks with good accuracy and getting the ball into good spots.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0039_111010.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321507" /></figure>    The midfielder was the Rangers' most consistent player throughout the match, and most of his team's offensive plays went through him. Hernandez started the match in the attacking midfielder role, and, despite his constant movement to get on the ball, he was always under pressure when in possession. He dropped to defensive midfielder in the second half and managed to make a bigger impact on the game from there, distributing the ball intelligently and setting up plays. Hernandez was very precise with his long passes and assisted in both of his team's goals.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0133.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321537" /></figure>    Owoade started the match on the right side of the Rangers' attack, working as an inverted winger, and had some success at making plays out wide. He moved to center forward during the second half and helped his team have a stronger presence inside the penalty box. Owoade deserves a lot of credit for having scored the team's first goal, as he chased a long pass and fought for a ball that seemed to be under the control of Greenwood's defenders, taking advantage of their hesitation to get to it and send it into the back of the net. The forward also made some good plays with his back to the goal and made solid runs behind the backline.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0107_8ecef7.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321525" /></figure>    Zavala came off the bench during the second half and significantly improved the Rangers' ability to keep the ball and make plays. He was slotted in central midfield, but circulated the entire field, distributing the ball well and helping his team keep possession. Zavala also made some good runs on the ball, attacking the space in front of him in the center of the field, and demonstrated good ability to beat opponents out wide in 1v1 plays.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0099_c9693d.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321522" /></figure>

The MLS Next 2025-2026 season kicked off earlier this month, with matches involving teams in the newly-renamed Homegrown and Academy divisions taking place all over the country after a two-month break following the 2024-2025 season.