Houston Rangers, AC Juniors Advance to 2026 Houston Super Cup Final
Houston Rangers FC powered past Houston Stars 6–2, while AC Juniors survived a 4–4 thriller against Houston Lions FC before winning 3–1 on penalties to officially set the 2026 Houston Super Cup Final.
The 2026 Houston Super Cup Final is officially set.
After five matchdays of competition, Houston Rangers FC and AC Juniors are the final two teams standing following a dramatic semifinal round.
Houston Rangers became the first club to book its place in the championship match with a dominant 6–2 victory over Houston Stars. AC Juniors followed with a much different path, fighting back multiple times against Houston Lions FC before eventually advancing 3–1 on penalties after a 4–4 draw.
Now, just one match separates either club from lifting the 2026 Houston Super Cup trophy.
Houston Rangers Take Control Early
Houston Rangers FC wasted almost no time making its presence felt against Houston Stars.
G. Baker opened the scoring in the 1st minute, giving the Rangers the perfect start.
Baker struck again in the 17th minute, extending the Rangers’ advantage to 2–0.
Houston Stars responded in the 32nd minute through D. Jean, cutting the deficit to 2–1 and keeping the semifinal within reach heading toward halftime.
But the Rangers would take over after the break.
Rangers Explode in the Second Half
Houston Rangers came out of halftime firing.
J. Mwarabu scored in the 46th minute, restoring the Rangers’ two-goal advantage.
Just four minutes later, E. Usen found the back of the net in the 50th minute.
Usen struck again in the 54th minute, completing his brace and putting Houston Rangers ahead 5–1.
Houston Stars managed to pull one back when S. Amuri scored in the 65th minute, but Houston Rangers answered immediately.
Baker completed his hat trick in the 66th minute, scoring his third goal of the match and sealing a commanding 6–2 semifinal victory.
Houston Rangers FC 6–2 Houston Stars
Houston Rangers FC
G. Baker — 1’, 17’, 66’
J. Mwarabu — 46’
E. Usen — 50’, 54’
Houston Stars
D. Jean — 32’
S. Amuri — 65’
With the victory, Houston Rangers FC became the first team to advance to the 2026 Houston Super Cup Final.
AC Juniors and Houston Lions Produce an Eight-Goal Thriller
The second semifinal delivered a completely different type of match. Houston Lions FC jumped out to an early advantage when N. Karmbor scored in the 9th minute. Y. Irias doubled the lead in the 18th minute, putting AC Juniors into an early 2–0 hole. AC Juniors finally broke through in the 33rd minute through Alan Cruz, cutting the Lions’ lead to one. Houston responded almost immediately. Bringsluck Nche scored in the 35th minute, restoring Houston Lions’ two-goal advantage at 3–1. AC Juniors refused to let the match get away. D. Castro scored in the 42nd minute, bringing AC Juniors back within one before halftime.
AC Juniors Fight Back Again
The comeback continued after the break.
Tony Castro scored in the 51st minute, bringing AC Juniors level at 3–3. Houston Lions regained the lead in the 68th minute through C. Harmon, making it 4–3 and once again putting AC Juniors’ tournament run in danger. But for another time, AC Juniors found an answer. G. Sevilla scored in the 79th minute, leveling the semifinal at 4–4. Neither side could find another goal, and the match headed to penalties.
AC Juniors 4–4 Houston Lions FC
AC Juniors
Alan Cruz — 33’
D. Castro — 42’
Tony Castro — 51’
G. Sevilla — 79’
Houston Lions FC
N. Karmbor — 9’
Y. Irias — 18’
Bringsluck Nche — 35’
C. Harmon — 68’
Physical Battle Goes to Penalties
The match also became one of the more physical contests of the tournament.
Houston Lions FC’s I. Wandji was shown a red card in the 41st minute, while AC Juniors’ D. Lazo received a red card in the 82nd minute.
With the match still tied 4–4, the second spot in the final would be decided from the penalty spot.
AC Juniors opened the shootout with Tony Castro converting.
Houston’s Carson Nsegbe missed the Lions’ first attempt.
Matthew Pham was unable to convert AC Juniors’ second penalty, but Houston Lions also missed its second attempt.
Alan Cruz converted for AC Juniors, while Bringsluck Nche scored Houston Lions’ lone successful penalty.
Andres Bautista then converted for AC Juniors before another Houston Lions miss officially ended the match.
Penalty Shootout
AC Juniors — 3
Tony Castro — Scored
Matthew Pham — Missed
Alan Cruz — Scored
Andres Bautista — Scored
Houston Lions FC — 1
Carson Nsegbe — Missed
Second attempt — Missed
Bringsluck Nche — Scored
Fourth attempt — Missed
AC Juniors had survived after trailing 2–0, 3–1 and 4–3 at different points in the match.
The shootout victory officially made AC Juniors the second finalist.
Houston Rangers vs. AC Juniors for the Championship
The road to the 2026 Houston Super Cup trophy now comes down to one final matchup.
Houston Rangers enters the final after an emphatic 6–2 victory over Houston Stars, powered by a G. Baker hat trick and an E. Usen brace.
AC Juniors arrives after surviving one of the tournament’s wildest matches, battling Houston Lions FC to a 4–4 draw before winning 3–1 on penalties.
Two teams remain.
One match remains.
One club will leave as the 2026 Houston Super Cup champion.
Stay connected with H-Town Pulse Media for full coverage of Houston Rangers FC vs. AC Juniors, including photos, highlights, match updates and championship coverage.
Photo Coverage: Cambree Catalano photographed Saturday’s Houston Super Cup action for H-Town Pulse Media, while Erick provided HTP photo coverage on Sunday.
