MLS Next U16: Houston Rangers dominate AC River to 5-1 victory

The MLS Next 2025-2026 season is entering the final weeks before its winter break, with matches involving teams in the newly-renamed Homegrown and Academy divisions taking place all over the country every weekend.   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, November 15, we were at the Blue Ridge Park, in Houston, where the [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] and the [program_tooltip program_id='321473' first='AC' last='River'] U16 teams met. Dominant for most of the match, the Rangers won 5-1.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U16 vs. [program_tooltip program_id='321473' first='AC' last='River'] U16 - <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/11/mls-next-u16-houston-rangers-vs-ac-river-photos-2/">Photos</a></li> </ul>   It didn't take long for the Rangers to score, as in the third minute, midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='321816' first='Simon' last='Rico'] picked the rebound of a corner kick on the far post and found the back of the net. Winger [player_tooltip player_id='261476' first='Kian' last='Bishesari'] doubled their lead in the 21st minute, after he was taken down inside the penalty box and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. [program_tooltip program_id='321473' first='AC' last='River'] got their goal right before the halftime whistle, in the 44th minute, when winger Xavi Tapia got on the end of a long ball on the left and fired a cross shot.   Midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='321849' first='Enrique' last='Hernandez'] got his goal in the seventh minute of the second half, after a free kick shot by Alejandro Alonzo deflected off the wall and found him open to score. At minute 28, midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='279121' first='GianLuca' last='Daniel Gonzalez'] made a strong run down the left, brought the ball inside and scored a golazo, finding the upper corner with a perfect shot. Midfielder Sammy Perez closed the Rangers' account in the 40th minute with a shot from outside the box.   The victory earned the Rangers three points in their first MLS Next match in the Frontier Division - they won't play again until March 21, when they face the IDEA Toros on the road. [program_tooltip program_id='321473' first='AC' last='River'], which also made their debut, will have [program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC'] as their next opponents, in a road match on February 21.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2>    Playing as an attacking midfielder, Gonzalez had a central role in the Rangers' offensive system against [program_tooltip program_id='321473' first='AC' last='River']. He got involved in basically everything they did in the attacking half, moving into good spots to get on the ball and combining very well with his teammates. Gonzalez also used his ability to dribble the ball to make a handful of great plays coming from the left side of their attack - his runs were very direct, and he was very difficult to dispossess or stop. In one of them, he hit a beautiful shot from the edge of the box to score his team's fourth goal and pretty much seal their victory. Gonzalez did well in set pieces, being dangerous in his free-kick attempts.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0339.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339529" /></figure>    Originally an attacking midfielder, Hernandez started the match on the right side of the Rangers' backline. There, he not only showed some solid defensive instincts and determination, but also added a nice level of quality to their buildup. He moved to the left side of their midfield after the halftime break and was very active, going at defenders 1v1 out wide and coming inside to get on the ball and connect accurate diagonal passes. Hernandez was very opportunistic to pick the rebound of a free kick attempt that hit the wall to score the team's third goal and make good plays on the left, combining with his teammates and finding them with smart passes.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0291.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339514" /></figure>    A central midfielder, Villafano was the Rangers' engine, contributing on both sides of the ball and playing with great intensity. He circulated the ball very well with his skilled left foot and was very intelligent in setting up transition plays, quickly moving the ball upfield and releasing it to his teammates at just the right time. Villafano also appeared well defensively, helping close out the space in the center of the field and showing great determination to fight for the ball. At times, he would step up to support the team's striker in pressing [program_tooltip program_id='321473' first='AC' last='River']'s defenders, pushing them to force long passes and turn the ball over.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0277.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339509" /></figure>    Taylor came off the bench early in the match and had a solid shift for the Rangers at the left back spot. He was very strong defensively, showing great energy to control his zone by winning duels and protecting the space behind his back with intelligent positioning. The outside back, in fact, consistently did a great job with his positioning, always stepping into the right spots to help the team, either when playing defense or when the Rangers were in possession. He didn't push forward very often, but fed the attacking players with good passes out of the back, assisting Gonzalez in the team's fourth goal.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0385.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339545" /></figure>    A dynamic winger, Tapia was [program_tooltip program_id='321473' first='AC' last='River']'s most dangerous offensive player during the match. He began the match on the right and had somewhat of a slow start, but became way more effective after he switched to the left. Tapia scored his team's only goal in a play in which he fought the Rangers' defenders for a long pass and fired a nice cross shot. He continued trying to make plays during the second half, beating defenders off the dribble on some occasions.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0305.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339519" /></figure>    A central midfielder, Corona moved well to get on the ball between the Rangers' defensive lines and had more touches than any of his [program_tooltip program_id='321473' first='AC' last='River'] teammates as he tried to dictate the team's pace with his distribution. He moved the ball well and was very precise with his long passes, getting his teammates isolated in 1v1 duels out wide on some occasions. Corona moved to the left side of the team's midfield during the second half and managed to make some plays by combining with Tapia.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0313.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339523" /></figure>

The MLS Next 2025-2026 season is entering the final weeks before its winter break, with matches involving teams in the newly-renamed Homegrown and Academy divisions taking place all over the country every weekend.

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, November 15, we were at the Blue Ridge Park, in Houston, where the Houston Rangers and the AC River U16 teams met. Dominant for most of the match, the Rangers won 5-1.

Houston Rangers U16 vs. AC River U16 - Photos

It didn't take long for the Rangers to score, as in the third minute, midfielder Simon Rico Simon Rico 5'9" | M/F Jordan | 2028 TX picked the rebound of a corner kick on the far post and found the back of the net. Winger Kian Bishesari Kian Bishesari 5'9" | F State TX doubled their lead in the 21st minute, after he was taken down inside the penalty box and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. AC River got their goal right before the halftime whistle, in the 44th minute, when winger Xavi Tapia got on the end of a long ball on the left and fired a cross shot.

Midfielder Enrique Hernandez Enrique Hernandez 5'8" | M/F Katy | 2028 State TX got his goal in the seventh minute of the second half, after a free kick shot by Alejandro Alonzo deflected off the wall and found him open to score. At minute 28, midfielder Gianluca Gonzalez Gianluca Gonzalez 5'7" | M/F The Ogburn School | 2028 TX made a strong run down the left, brought the ball inside and scored a golazo, finding the upper corner with a perfect shot. Midfielder Sammy Perez closed the Rangers' account in the 40th minute with a shot from outside the box.

The victory earned the Rangers three points in their first MLS Next match in the Frontier Division - they won't play again until March 21, when they face the IDEA Toros on the road. AC River , which also made their debut, will have Capital City SC as their next opponents, in a road match on February 21.