MLS Next U16: Houston Dynamo beat FC Dallas with late goals

The MLS Next League continues to progress week after week as the top events of the season - Generation Adidas Cup, MLS Next Flex and MLS Next Cup - quickly approach.   PrepSoccer Texas continues to offer unparalleled coverage of the teams from the Lone Star State that compete in the Homegrown Division, bringing weekly content that includes match and player reports, Photo Galleries and social media posts.   On Saturday, March 21, we attended the Texas Derby between [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] and [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] in the U16 age group at the Houston Sports Park. With goals scored in the last 15 minutes, the Dynamo triumphed 2-1.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U16 vs. [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] U16 - <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2026/03/mls-next-u16-houston-dynamo-vs-fc-dallas-photos-2/">Photos</a></li> </ul>   <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/DWKq1XsDjUN/?img_index=1 </div></figure>   After dominating the entire match and creating many chances, the Dynamo managed to score in the 38th minute of the second half, when midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='211224' first='Keegan' last='Ahrens'] was tripped by defender [player_tooltip player_id='210652' first='Justus' last='Jones'] inside the box and midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='332674' first='Matthew' last='Shannon'] converted from the spot. Seven minutes later, [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] were also awarded a penalty kick after forward Alvin Tabe was taken down in the box. Forward [player_tooltip player_id='210669' first='Xavier' last='Gomez'] went for the ball and buried it. Already into added time, Ahrens persisted on a play after going down in the box and fired a left-footed shot to produce the game-winner for the Dynamo.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2>    Ahrens's ability to make plays in the final third was decisive for the Dynamo, as the right winger was involved in both goals scored by his team. He made it past his marker with a quick move before being taken down to draw a penalty kick and showed great resilience and calm in front of the goal to score the game-winning goal. Ahrens was very active on the right side of the Dynamo's offense, going at defenders in 1v1 players and combining well with right back [player_tooltip player_id='210666' first='Brogan' last='Fitzsimons'] to make plays out wide. He also contributed a lot defensively, tracking back to close the space and blocking [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']' left back from pushing forward.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/2J4A0306_44b280.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-352985" /></figure>    Shannon worked very well for the Dynamo alongside [player_tooltip player_id='336810' first='Ekco' last='Yurong'] in the center of the field as the two worked hard to help their team dominate a critical area of the field. Because of their high intensity and intensity, [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']' midfielders never had much time or space on the ball, struggling to create organized attacking plays. Shannon was very good at reading plays, too, often being the first to get to second balls and showing impressive quickness to intercept passes. He also offered good offensive support, taking the ball into the final third with direct, aggressive runs, and showing the vision and patience to move it around as the Dynamo looked to find gaps in the opposing backline. He also showed calm and composure to convert a penalty kick in a key moment of the match.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/2J4A0340_51930e.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-352995" /></figure>    A right back, Fitzsimons was one of the Dynamo's best attacking options in the match. He consistently stepped into the attacking half and operated very well on the right, combining with Ahrens, who he assisted in the game-winning goal, and sending dangerous crosses into the box. The outside back also appeared well in the penalty box in set pieces, getting a couple of dangerous headers, one of which hit the crossbar. He also held his own defensively, standing out for his positioning and his ability to win duels and recover when passes were attempted behind his back.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/2J4A0314.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-352988" /></figure>    Choate was very dangerous in the first half of the match, doing a great job of finding space behind [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']' backline and consistently getting into good spots to finish. He had a couple of chances to score in front of the goal, but was stopped by goalkeeper [player_tooltip player_id='295563' first='David' last='Jaimes Martinez']. The forward also did well when he drifted from the center of the attack to wider areas, combining with his teammates and making plays on the wings. Choate played a little bit deeper in the second half, almost as a second forward, and got more involved in the team's playmaking, but also appeared well inside the box, getting on the end of a couple of crosses.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/2J4A0280.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-352976" /></figure>    If [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] managed to keep the Dynamo scoreless for more than 80 minutes, Martinez deserves a lot of credit for it. The goalkeeper played the entire first half and about half of the second and had a flawless performance between the posts. Martinez was asked to do a lot in the first half, when the opponents repeatedly created good chances, and he did some impressive saves, using his length extremely well and showing excellent quickness to get to the ground. The goalkeeper also did very well in the air, expertly navigating the penalty box and being very firm when going up to claim crosses.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/2J4A0357.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-353001" /></figure>    Gomez scored [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']' only goal in the match and was their most consistently dangerous attacking player. He spent time in all three spots up top and was at his best when playing on the wings. With Dallas looking to hit in transition, Gomez did a good job of always being an option for long passes, using his pace to attack the space out wide and having some dangerous runs. He showed calm and quality to convert the penalty box and helped create another good chance in the final minutes with an intelligent pass behind the backline.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/2J4A0367_9285e1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-353004" /></figure>    Playing as a left-sided center back, Guillen-Lopez was the most consistent and reliable piece in the team's backline. In the first half, when the Dynamo found some space between Dallas' right back and right-sided center back, he did well in stepping up to cover his teammates, coming up with well-timed tackles and blocks. Guillen-Lopez could probably have reacted a little bit quicker to challenge Ahrens after he went down in the game-winning goal, but he defended well inside the box in general, doing particularly well in the air. The center back was also very comfortable and confident on the ball, moving it intelligently and cleanly out of the back.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/2J4A0343_b1bb93.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-352997" /></figure>

The MLS Next League continues to progress week after week as the top events of the season - Generation Adidas Cup, MLS Next Flex and MLS Next Cup - quickly approach.