MLS Next U19: Real Salt Lake beat the Houston Dynamo on the road

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 in attendance for the U19 duel involving the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] and the [program_tooltip program_id='283725' first='Real' last='Salt Lake'], at the Houston Sports Park. Despite playing on the road, RSL came out on top, winning 4-2.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U19 vs. [program_tooltip program_id='283725' first='Real' last='Salt Lake'] U19 - <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/11/mls-next-u19-houston-dynamo-vs-real-salt-lake-photos/">Photos</a></li> </ul>   The Dynamo scored the first goal of the match in the ninth minute, when forward [player_tooltip player_id='148174' first='Tristan' last='Cottle'] challenged RSL's goalkeeper [player_tooltip player_id='167783' first='Konstantinos' last='Kyriazis'] for a long ball, and forward [player_tooltip player_id='149383' first='Kian' last='Walsh'] picked up the rebound to score. Three minutes later, the visiting team tied, with midfielder Matteo Zambrano picking up a rebound inside the penalty box to send it into the back of the net. Their go-ahead goal came at the 26th minute, when they won the ball back in the attacking half and Zambrano assisted forward Jack Ottley to score. RSL got their third in the 30th minute, when a pass deflected off a Dynamo defender and found forward Chase Duke, who sent it home with a well-placed shot.   The Dynamo got one back in the 22nd minute of the second half, when Walsh battled an RSL defender for a long ball, chested it down and scored with a left-footed shot. Three minutes later, though, Zambrano took a free kick just outside the penalty box, the ball deflected off the wall and found Duke open to score his second in the match.   With the result, the Dynamo continue with 13 points (four wins, two losses, one tie) in the MLS Next Flex Academy Division. [program_tooltip program_id='283725' first='Real' last='Salt Lake'] got to ten points (three wins, one loss, one tie).   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2>    Involved in three of RSL's four goals, Zambrano was excellent for them in midfield. Extremely technical and intelligent, he dictated the rhythm of their offense, accelerating the game when he should and controlling the pace when that was his best option. A lefty, Zambrano used his body very well to shield the ball and was very effective when dribbling into tight spaces, being very difficult to dispossess in the center of the field. In addition to his offensive impact, the midfielder also contributed on defense, dropping back to help his team when they didn't have the ball or to facilitate things when they attempted to break the Dynamo pressure.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0097_8cd696.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339256" /></figure>    The striker was decisive in [program_tooltip program_id='283725' first='Real' last='Salt Lake']'s victory, scoring two of the team's four goals. Duke stood out with his positioning, twice getting the ball in great spots after deflections off the Dynamo defense, and calm and composure in front of the goal to convert both chances he had. The forward also combined well with his teammates, moving well in the final third to take part in the team's chance creation. Duke also demonstrated an impressive work rate, making strong runs behind the backline and showing great effort to press opponents until he final whistle.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0163.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339272" /></figure>    Playing as a right winger, Ottley was very important in RSL's offense. He stayed very wide and did a great job of exploiting the space available in the Dynamo backline. Ottley was very direct and aggressive with his runs, consistently getting to the end line to make crosses and create chances. He did very well in the play in which he scored too, staying onside as his team moved the ball around and beating a defender with a quick move before firing a powerful shot with his right foot.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0153.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339269" /></figure>    Estala led [program_tooltip program_id='283725' first='Real' last='Salt Lake']'s backline with great intelligence and efficiency. He was very smart defensively, reading the game extremely well and making stops without having to get into physical battles on several occasions. Estala was very good at anticipating plays to intercept passes and cut passing lines and also showed good mobility to defend in space. [program_tooltip program_id='283725' first='Real' last='Salt Lake']'s buildup always started with the center back, who displayed great vision and impressive calm and quality on the ball to pick the right passes. He consistently bypassed the Dynamo's first line of press to find the center midfielder between the lines and also connected some accurate long passes out of the back.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0113_963ebd.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339261" /></figure>    Playing as a left back, Ream was very offensive-minded. He stayed very wide and high and helped [program_tooltip program_id='283725' first='Real' last='Salt Lake'] stretch the Dynamo's defensive system with his positioning. The outside back made some good runs on the ball down the left side and consistently overlapped, being a constant option for his team. Ream also made good choices when he had the ball in the final third, not forcing plays and unnecessarily wasting possession. He also played with great determination on defense and did a good job of slowing down Dynamo's dangerous right winger [player_tooltip player_id='337489' first='Mohammad' last='Samir'].    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0173_a0689e.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339550" /></figure>    The forward scored both of Dynamo's goals in the match and was their most dangerous attacking player. Walsh didn't get much service during the first half and made the most of the only chance he had, doing a great job of following the play to pick up the loose ball and showing calm to finish it. He got his second goal in somewhat of a half-chance too, using his physical tools to knock an RSL defender out of the ball and sending it to the back of the net with a difficult left-footed shot. Walsh moved well in the final third and did a good job of being available for his teammates with his constant running.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0232.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339293" /></figure>    Fresh from having represented El Salvador at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the midfielder was subbed in after the halftime break and was a standout for the Dynamo in midfield. With good vision and a nice passing range, he distributed the ball with intelligence and made his team attack in a more organized and structured way. Inojosa also had a lot of ground to cover defensively as the Dynamo had many attacking players on the field, and he did a good job of keeping a good intensity and not allowing RSL to dominate the center of the field.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0197_fbbbca.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339283" /></figure>    Playing on the left side of the Dynamo's midfield, Gitau was the focal point of their offense. He got on the ball a lot and tried to make things happen with his technical and intelligent game. The midfielder made some nice individual plays, but also combined well with his teammates. Gitau brought the ball inside on some occasions and tried to find the forwards with passes behind the backline, having some success.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0248_0e4afd.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-339301" /></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.