MLS Next U17: Super subs lead Rangers to victory over Greenwood

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 at the Blue Ridge Park, in Houston, where the [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U17 team faced MLS Next newcomers Tulsa Greenwood SC U17. With great performances from their substitutes, the home team scored six unanswered goals in the second half to come back and win 6-1.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U17 vs. Tulsa Greenwood SC U17 - <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/09/mls-next-u17-houston-rangers-vs-tulsa-greenwood-sc-photos/">Photos</a></li> </ul>   Competing in the MLS Next league for the first time this season, Greenwood got an early lead in the match after forward Carlos Pacheco fired a powerful shot from outside the penalty box into the upper corner to score in the seventh minute of the first half.   Trailing, the Rangers made a pair of substitutions after the halftime break and they worked quickly, as one of the incoming players, midfielder Xavi Castillo, won the ball in the final third and fired a powerful shot to level the score in the seventh minute of the second half. Five minutes later, forward [player_tooltip player_id='148816' first='Kade' last='Taylor'], who also came in, assisted midfielder Jeremiah Frederich, who scored with a left-footed shot. Castillo got on the board again in the 25th minute, curling the ball over Greenwood's goalkeeper from the corner of the penalty box.   Defender Christian Esteban was the next one to score for the Rangers, getting on the end of a Frederich cross and heading the ball into the back of the net in the 31st minute. Two minutes later, Taylor got one himself, bringing the ball inside from the left and firing a low shot. Castillo's third goal in the match gave the final numbers to it - he made a combination play with Frederich and calmly finished at the 37th-minute mark.   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 midfielder came in after the halftime break and changed the game for his team, leading their excellent second-half performance with a hat trick. Playing on the right side of their midfield, Castillo was very active on the ball, always looking to combine with his teammates and make plays. He demonstrated excellent finishing skills, scoring goals in very different ways, and had great vision in his second goal, reading the situation perfectly and finding the right solution for it. Castillo moved to more of a central position during the second half and stood out with his ability to connect passes in teh final third and to move off the ball and attack the space available.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0302.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321604" /></figure>      Taylor was another halftime substitute who made a difference for the Rangers, contributing a goal and an assist in 45 minutes. Playing on the left side of their attack, he was very active and aggressive on the ball, using his dribbling ability to go at defenders and make plays. Taylor did a great job of staying wide and stretching the field, generating space in the middle for his team's midfielders to infiltrate. He was very intense while he was on the field and managed to keep his level high during the entire time despite consistently getting on the ball.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0247.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321589" /></figure>    Frederich spent most of the match in the attacking midfielder role and had a very active shift, getting on the ball a lot and making things happen. He made some good plays during the first half, getting into the final third with both combination plays and solo runs, but didn't have a good chance to finish them. That happened in the second half, and he converted the best one he had, scoring the team's go-ahead goal with a well-placed left-footed shot. Frederich had another good opportunity to score in the second half, but saw his shot hit the crossbar, and continued to contribute offensively, assisting in the team's fourth and sixth goals.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0254.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321594" /></figure>    Despite the comfortable score, the Rangers' backline was put to work on some moments by Greenwood, and Mena and fellow center back Christian Esteban handled it very well. Playing on the right side of their central defense, he did a good job of stopping their transition plays, using well-timed sliding tackles on a couple of occasions to interrupt what could have been dangerous plays inside the penalty box. Mena also did well at keeping opponents under pressure when they worked with their backs to the goal, preventing them from turning and forcing them back. The center back was very patient when on the ball and was extremely reliable with his passing.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0184.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321564" /></figure>    Hrobar didn't necessarily have a lot of work to do in the match, but he was extremely safe and reliable every time that happened. The goalkeeper couldn't have done any better to stop Greenwood's only goal in the match, and made some nice saves on shots and crosses. His most important action was probably diving to the feet of an opponent in a transition play and getting the ball during the first half, when a second goal would have made his team's comeback a lot more difficult. Hrobar also used his feet well every time he was given the ball, passing it with confidence out of the back.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0180_d74a2f.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321563" /></figure>    Pacheco scored Greenwood's lone goal in the match and was their most dangerous attacking player. The left-footed forward played on the right side of their attack, but had a lot of freedom to fluctuate in teh final third and used it very well, having active roles in both his team's playmaking and finishing. He scored their goal with a beautiful shot from outside the box and fired a few other good shots. Pacheco also showed excellent vision and connected great passes in the final third.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DOlfKlrDf2-/ </div></figure>    Greenwood's captain Williams played a high-intensity match for the team in his defensive midfielder role. He did a good job of covering ground in the center of the field and helped stop plays there, pushing the Rangers to the wider areas. Williams also had an important role in the team's buildup, getting closer to the center backs when they had the ball and helping them move it upfield. He had a good run on the ball during the second half and demonstrated good vision in possession, connecting first-time passes to break pressure on some occasions.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/2J4A0192.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-321567" /></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.