Samuel is one of the defensive pillars of the Houston Dynamo U16 team that will go against Toronto FC, D.C. United and Sockers FC in Group 13. An extremely athletic defender, he’s an imposing figure in their backline and does a great job of shutting down opponents who attack his zone, dominating them with his physical tools. Samuel is also a very intelligent and tenacious defender, who reads opponents well and is unafraid of making strong tackles inside and around the penalty box to come out with the ball. He’s been consistently improving his game on the ball and is now able to support the team’s offense with solid passing and runs on the ball to take the space in front of him.

Playing on the right side of the Dynamo’s back three, Samuel had a solid match as none of the Toros’ three goals initiated there. He did a good job of shutting down the Toros’ plays on his side, using his athleticism and positioning to win duels. The center back was also very strong in the air, intercepting many attempts of long passe behind his back. With the Dynamo heavily dominating possession, the center back was asked to step forward and support the team’s buildup, which he did efficiently, occupying the space in the attacking half and connecting good passes.