MLS Next U16: Austin FC overcome Houston Dynamo 4-3 on the road

The MLS Next League returned to action after its winter break and between now and the end of the season, every weekend will be filled with matches everywhere around the country.   Competition resumed for the Texas teams this past weekend, after the matches the week before were postponed due to the low temperatures. On Saturday, January 31, Prep Soccer Texas followed the return to action in the state at Houston Sports Park, where the <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/program/houston-dynamo-2/">[program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo']</a> and <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/program/austin-fc-2/">[program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']</a> battled. Their U16 match was full of turnarounds and ended with the visiting Austin coming out on top 4-3.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U16 vs. [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] U16 - <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2026/02/mls-next-u16-houston-dynamo-vs-austin-fc-photos-4/">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/DUWsGPFj5G8/?img_index=1 </div></figure>   Austin drew the first blood in the 12th minute of action after midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='349224' first='Erick' last='Feliciano'] found [player_tooltip player_id='210659' first='Roberto' last='Monarres'] behind the backline and the forward picked up the rebound of his own shot to score. The Dynamo leveled the score six minutes later, when forward Deiby Samuel got on the end of a cross from outside back [player_tooltip player_id='210666' first='Brogan' last='Fitzsimons'] and headed the ball into the back of the net. The home team went to the halftime break ahead following a goal by forward [player_tooltip player_id='211230' first='Oscar' last='Olsen'] in the 35th minute - he got the ball on the edge of the box, beat a defender off the dribble and fired a cross shot to beat Austin's goalkeeper.   Austin's second-half comeback started with defender [player_tooltip player_id='210648' first='Clayton' last='Glynn'], who scored with a nice shot after a corner kick. Subbed in during the second half, forward [player_tooltip player_id='349082' first='Rocco' last='Viana'] was huge for the visiting side, scoring twice in four minutes - he took advantage of a defensive turnover made by the Dynamo to score after shooting twice in the 28th minute and capitalized on a transition play to get another at the 32nd-minute mark. Houston fought back with an Olimpico scored by Fitzsimons during added time, but couldn't avoid the home upset.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2>    The forward came in during the second half and didn't need much time on the field to decide the match with two goals. Viana offered a solid presence up top for Austin and did a good job of battling the Dynamo's physical center backs inside and around the penalty box. The striker showed impressive calm and quality in front of the goal, shooting twice to score his first goal in the match and using his left foot to finish a transition play and get the second. Viana also showed good vision to set offensive plays up when he dropped deeper to get on the ball and offered solid defensive support in the final matches of the match, when his team fought to secure the win.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/2J4A0339.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-349667" /></figure>    Glynn formed a solid center back duo with [player_tooltip player_id='349076' first='Cruz' last='Garcia'] and had an important role in Austin's victory. He appeared very well in the attacking penalty box on a corner kick to score the second goal and start his team's reaction in a critical moment of the match. He did some good defensive plays, too, benefiting from his positioning and quickness to make stops, and helped Austin sustain the Dynamo's final push. Glynn also thrived in possession, demonstrating confidence and intelligence to move the ball instead of forcing long passes out of the back.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/2J4A0305.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-349657" /></figure>    The left-sided center back had a solid performance for Austin, leading their buildup and making nice defensive plays. A lefty, Garcia got on the ball every time his team had possession and was very confident with his passing, insisting on breaking lines even after he made a couple of errors and showing good vision. He was very patient with his distribution, waiting for the right moment to attempt more vertical passes, and demonstrated excellent timing and great accuracy to connect long balls out of the back. Garcia also did well defensively, reading the game intelligently and stepping up to make stops in front of and on the side of the penalty box.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/2J4A0255.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-349644" /></figure>    Feliciano provided Austin with good quality on the ball and creativity in their attacking plays. He started the match playing more centrally and helped set up the team's first goal with an intelligent pass behind the backline that allowed Monarres enough time to shoot twice. Feliciano took good care of the ball in possession, connecting the vast majority of his passes, and consistently made the right choices with his distribution. He moved to the left wing during the second half and wasn't as active, but continued to stand out with his quality in the attacking half.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/2J4A0294.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-349653" /></figure>    The right back was the Dynamo's most consistent player on the field, keeping a high level of play throughout the match. Fitzsimons had a fun battle with Austin's winger [player_tooltip player_id='210659' first='Roberto' last='Monarres'] in the first half and did well by keeping up with his pace and timing his tackles extremely well. The outside back had a constant presence in the attacking half and was always very accurate with his crosses, especially the one in which he assisted Samuel to score Houston's first goal. Fitzsimons also provided excellent service in set pieces and scored the team's third goal by sending the ball inside the back post directly out of a corner kick.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/2J4A0270.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-349647" /></figure>    The forward registered a goal and was the Dynamo's most consistently dangerous attacking player in the match. Olsen played the striker role, delivering a lot of mobility and constantly getting on the ball in the final third. He scored the team's second goal near the end of the first half in a play in which he demonstrated quality to dribble an Austin defender in a tight space and calmness to find the back of the net with a well-placed shot. Olsen also stood for his vision when he moved outside the box to get on the ball, making some good plays out wide and setting up plays from a deeper position.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/2J4A0268.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-349646" /></figure>    Samuel was very active on the left side of the Dynamo's attack and added quickness and power to their offensive efforts. The winger was very good at dribbling the ball down the line and had some nice runs on the left. Samuel was excellent every step of the way to score the team's first goal in the match, intelligently following the play as it developed on the opposite side, picking the right moment to make a diagonal and attacking the ball with energy to head it into the lower corner. He also played with good intensity, dropping back to help on defense and fighting for the ball.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/2J4A0283.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-349649" /></figure>

The MLS Next League returned to action after its winter break and between now and the end of the season, every weekend will be filled with matches everywhere around the country.