MLS Next U17: GFI come back to beat the Houston Rangers at home

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 8, we followed the Houston Derby between the [program_tooltip program_id='283654' first='Global' last='Football Innovation Academy'] (GFI) and the [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U17 teams at the GFI facility in Spring. After conceding an early goal, the home team came back strong from the halftime break and scored twice, securing a 2-1 home victory.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>GFI U17 vs. [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U17 - <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/11/mls-next-u17-gfi-vs-houston-rangers-photos/">Photos</a></li> </ul>   The Rangers got their goal in the fifth minute of the first half, when a long pass deflected off a GFI defender and found forward [player_tooltip player_id='148816' first='Kade' last='Taylor'] open behind the backline. He drove the ball into the box and finished calmly to score. Six minutes later, GFI had their best chance in the first half, with forward Colgin Wang heading the ball into he crossbar.   GFI leveled the score in the fifth minute of the second half, when midfielder Pol Verges sent the ball into the box and Rangers outside back Noah Baltodano tried to head it away, but instead sent it into his own net. Five minutes later, GFI capitalized on another long ball sent into the Rangers' box, with midfielder Sebastian Guerra, a former Rangers player, getting on the end of it, cutting it to his left foot and firing a shot to score the game-winning goal.   The home win has kept GFI at the top of the MLS Next Flex Frontier Division standings, now with 19 points (six wins, one loss, one tie) - their next match is against [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] on the road, on November 22. The Rangers are sixth with six points (one win, two losses, three ties) and have Real Salt Lake as their opponents, on the road, on February 22.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2>    Verges' hard work in midfield was instrumental for GFI to gain control of the game and create the conditions for their comeback. The center midfielder covered a lot of ground and was very active defensively, helping neutralize the Rangers' talented midfield and forcing them to play direct most of the time. A lefty, Verges also moved the ball very well, distributing it efficiently and helping the team keep possession and progress into the final third. He showed great quality in sending curved crosses into the box and, in one of them, his team scored the equalizer.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0218.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-337893" /></figure>    The forward came off the bench after the halftime break and transformed GFI's offense. Playing as a striker, Torkin moved very well on and off the ball and added a lot of dynamism to the team's attacking efforts. The forward was very involved in the team's playmaking, working well with his back to the goal, making strong runs in the final third and combining well with his teammates. Torkin also created some good situations for himself in the final third and had a couple of chances to finish.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0242.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-337905" /></figure>    Playing next to Verges in central midfield, Hall also had a solid shift, appearing well on both sides of the ball. He made solid defensive work for GFI, shiedling the team's backline, covering a lot of ground and winning duels in the central area of the field. While Verges would stay a little bit deeper in possession, Hall had the freedom to infiltrate into the final third, and he did it with some nice runs on the right side of his team's attack. He kept his intensity level high during the entire time and also took good care of the ball, connecting intelligent passes.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0221_a04de8.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-337896" /></figure>    Montemayor anchored GFI's defense and provided the stability that the team needed to push forward and get the result. After the early goal they conceded, in which a deflection caught all their defensive system off guard, GFI were able to control the Rangers' attack fairly well. Playing as a left-sided center back, Montemayor and his central defense partner Nathan Munoz were very steady and efficient at dealing with the Rangers' counters, either stepping up to intercept long passes or chasing attackers outside the penalty box. The defender was also heavily involved in the team's buildup and delivered at a high level, showing calm and patience on the ball and quality to connect short and long passes.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0157_125fb2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-337877" /></figure>    Taylor was an important outlet for the Rangers in their strategy to hit GFI on the counter. Playing on the left side of their attack, he capitalized very early, making a smart diagonal run to get on the end of a pass and showing great composure in front of the goal to score. The winger used his pace to make other runs out wide and was involved in his team's best offensive moments, going at defenders in space and either taking the ball to the end line to cross or bringing it inside to finish it. Taylor was also very dangerous when isolated 1v1 out wide and did a great job of timing his runs and remaining onside.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0213.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-337891" /></figure>    Heredia had a solid shift in central defense for the Rangers. He was very active during the match and used his size to clear crosses and win duels inside and around the penalty box. Heredia was excellent with his defensive choices, always picking the right option to win the ball and executing well. He was also very efficient and consistent with his distribution out of the back.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/11/2J4A0278.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-337918" /></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.