MLS Next U19: Houston Dynamo beat GFI Academy in a close match

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2026-2027 MLS Next season continues to progress, and until June, the top boys' teams in the country will go against each other week in, week out, fighting for victories on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Soccer Texas continues to follow the league in the Lone Star State, providing the best coverage in the region, with match recaps, performance recaps, photo galleries, and social media posts that highlight the hard work and impressive talent of local players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Saturday, October 24, we attended the U19 match between the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] and Global Football Innovation (GFI) Academy at Houston Sports Park. The Dynamo came out on top in a closely contested encounter, triumphing 2-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U19 vs. GFI Academy U19 - <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2026/10/mls-next-u19-houston-dynamo-vs-gfi-academy-photos/">Photos</a></strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DfDXqyjj4Qq/?img_index=1","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <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/DfDXqyjj4Qq/?img_index=1 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The home team first got on the scoreboard in the 26th minute of action, when forward [player_tooltip player_id='148223' first='Myles' last='Gardner'] was taken down inside the box and midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='332674' first='Matthew' last='Shannon'] converted from the spot. The Dynamo got another goal in the 41st minute, after they won the ball in their attacking half and got it to [player_tooltip player_id='148174' first='Tristan' last='Cottle'], who set up forward [player_tooltip player_id='277893' first='Jonathan' last='Torkin'] to score against his former team in his first match in a Dynamo uniform. GFI Academy got one back in the 56th minute, when defender [player_tooltip player_id='414054' first='Adrian' last='Dominguez'] scored with a beautiful left-footed shot after receiving the ball from midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='349065' first='Pol' last='Verges'], but couldn't get an equalizer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Game</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["148174"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae1056502fab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cottle played on the left side of the Dynamo's attack and was very active and aggressive out there. He did a great job of consistently finding space behind their right back and was always an option for his teammates on the wing. Cottle also did well when he faced opponents 1v1 out wide, using his quickness and dribbling skills to beat them before firing shots on goal or sending crosses into the box. The forward did very well in the play of the Dynamo's second goal, immediately taking the ball into the box and showing excellent vision to assist Torkin, who only had to send the ball into an open net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":416857,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/10/2J4A0060_360b0a.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-416857" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["148223"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae1056503020"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gardner played on the right for the Dynamo and had a solid offensive performance. He struggled a little bit with remaining onside during the first half, but still had a key role in the team's first goal, winning a duel just outside the box and earning a penalty kick right after it. Gardner raised his level in the second half, combining well with right back [player_tooltip player_id='210666' first='Brogan' last='Fitzsimons'] to make plays out wide. The forward also had good moments when he brought the ball inside from the right and demonstrated good determination to work off the ball and play defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":416862,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/10/2J4A0073_98f15b.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-416862" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["210657"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae1056503070"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Reyes played at the base of the Dynamo's midfield trio and was very consistent with his play. The midfielder's passing vision and quality on the ball were extremely valuable for his team, as he moved the ball well in the center of the field and offered significant support to the team's buildup. Reyes was also very accurate with his long balls, helping the Dynamo connect dangerous transition plays with his direct passing. He was very active defensively as well, winning duels in the center of the field and being very quick to get to second balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":416844,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/10/2J4A0029_d5d52e.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-416844" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["277893"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae10565030ba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Torkin was decisive in his first match for the Dynamo, scoring the game-winner against his former club. The center forward did a great job with his positioning in that play, following Cottle's run on the left and getting into a great spot to get the ball from him and convert his chance. Torkin also moved well off the ball and was constantly involved in the team's attacking plays, dropping to combine with his teammates and working well with his back to the goal. He also attempted some runs on the ball and constantly challenged GFI Academy's defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":416845,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/10/2J4A0034_d5648a.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-416845" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["414054"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae1056503104"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dominguez scored GFI Academy's only goal in the match and was involved in most of the team's best plays against the Dynamo. Playing as a right back, he consistently bombed forward and made some good plays in the attacking half. Dominguez showed great composure and quality to score, cutting the ball inside right after getting into the box and hitting a nice left-footed shot into the corner. He did give up way too much space for [player_tooltip player_id='148174' first='Tristan' last='Cottle'] to play in his zone, but did well in 1v1 duels, showing excellent timing to tackle opponents and win the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":416872,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/10/2J4A0101.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-416872" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["148228"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae105650314d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Montemayor did well in central defense for GFI Academy and had a positive display against the Dynamo. He stood out for his positioning and won many duels just outside the box, while also defending well inside it. Montemayor showed good spatial awareness and decision-making when dragged upfield, pushing opponents away and stopping plays far off the final third when he was beaten. The left-footed center back's quality on the ball was of great importance for GFI Academy as they attempted to build out of the back, as he delivered accurate short and long passes to move the ball upfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":416851,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/10/2J4A0047_305f94.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-416851" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["148816"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae1056503192"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Taylor was the most active and productive among GFI Academy's attacking players in the match. He started the match playing more centrally, as an attacking midfielder, and had good moments when starting transition plays, firing a nice shot on goal. Taylor moved to his original left winger spot in the second half and continued to be a threat. He used his pace well to get into space, faced opponents 1v1, and had a good chance to score after bringing the ball inside from the wing and attempting a low driven shot from the edge of the box.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":416840,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/10/2J4A0022_a3074f.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-416840" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->