Houston Dynamo U15 beat Rangers U16 ahead of MLS Next playoffs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MLS Next Cup playoffs are set to take place from June 14-22, in Nashville, Tennessee, and the teams that qualified to compete for the title are finalizing their preparations for the most important moment of their seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Sunday, June 8, the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U15 team hosted the [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U16 team in a friendly match at the Houston Sports Park and won 4-3 ahead of their trip to Tennessee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/06/mls-next-houston-dynamo-u15-vs-houston-rangers-u16-photos/">MLS Next: [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U15 vs. [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U16 - Photos</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The match was split into three 30-minute periods and the Rangers were the only ones to score in the first of them, with forward Alejandro Gomez, who received a pass behind the backline and chipped the ball over the goalkeeper in the 16th minute. With a different lineup, the Dynamo came back in the second period - forward [player_tooltip player_id='280321' first='Landon' last='Diaz'] won possession in the final third and scored with a left-footed shot at the 18th minute and forward Deiby Samuel got the go-ahead goal seven minutes later, with a nice shot into the upper corner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The home team increased its lead in the fifth minute of the third period, after [player_tooltip player_id='210663' first='Maddox' last='Choate'] assisted forward [player_tooltip player_id='210673' first='Alexander' last='Munoz'], who dribbled the ball around the goalkeeper and finished into an open net. The end of the match was electric and had the Rangers scoring twice in the 25th and 26th minutes- first with midfielder Xavi Castillo and then with forward Sebastian Guerra. With one minute left on the clock, outside back Brogan Fitzsimons hit a beautiful free kick into the upper corner to give the Dynamo the victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["280321"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6846f629d1602"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Diaz played in the second and third periods of the match and was extremely impactful in the Dynamo's offense. His ability to press high was of great value for his team as two of their four goals, including the one he scored, started with the forward winning possession in the attacking half. Diaz also contributed to the team's playmaking efforts, coming inside from the right and facilitating plays with smart first-time passes. The forward also fulfilled his defensive commitments, dropping back to challenge the Rangers' left back, and managed to block many of his runs, playing with great energy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":288696,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/06/2J4A0177.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-288696" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Deiby Samuel","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6846f629d170e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Like Diaz, Samuel came in before the start of the second period and strengthened the Dynamo's offense with his high-energy game. Playing more to the right side of the team's attack, he used his pace and explosiveness to make runs out wide and kept the Rangers' backline under constant pressure. He did a great job when scoring his team's second goal as he was very intelligent to let the ball go by him in order to create a better angle for him to shoot and confident to hit it with his left foot, sending a difficult finish into the upper corner. Samuel also played a major role in the team's game-winning goal, drawing the free kick that resulted in the goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":288705,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/06/2J4A0202.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-288705" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Matt Shannon","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6846f629d17e3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Shannon had a solid shift in central midfield for the Dynamo, playing in the first and second periods of the match. He was very active defensively, covering a lot of ground in midfield and making it harder for the Rangers to make plays in his zone. He used his ability to read the game to anticipate plays and managed to win possession without needing to tackle or get into a duel on multiple occasions. Shannon also appeared well in possession, driving the ball forward with strong runs through the middle and moving it around efficiently with smart passes and shifts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":288701,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/06/2J4A0192.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-288701" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Patrick McHugh","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bridgeland","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6846f629d18ae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The midfielder was among the main attacking weapons for his team and helped orchestrate most of their offensive plays. McHugh was excellent at taking the ball from the defensive half to the final third, engaging in quick combination plays through the middle and sending long passes behind the backline when he saw an opportunity. He was very good at creating space for his teammates with his movement, and on a few occasions, moved from the center to the left, creating room for the outside back to underlap. McHugh was always present in the final third to find passes and finish chances, but was very committed defensively, helping his team occupy the center of the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":288687,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/06/2J4A0154.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-288687" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alejandro Gomez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6846f629d1974"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The forward scored the Rangers' first goal in the match and was dangerous on most of the occasions he got on the ball. In the goal, Gomez made an excellent diagonal run off the ball to appear open just outside the box and was very calm to send it over the goalkeeper. He spent most of the match on the left side of the attack and did well when working with his back to the goal or when going at opponents in 1v1 plays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":288688,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/06/2J4A0156.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-288688" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->