Two young attackers who came with large expectations. An attack that has greatly struggled and a franchise who has been in the tank for the last three years. This could be a match made in heaven. Nelson Quinones came last year on loan during the summer transfer window with a lot of hope he could provide the wide wing play the Dynamo were severely lacking. Ibrahim Aliyu just got here, but has had an immediate impact on pitch. When the two have been put together, the results have been staggering. It's early in the process, but over the last few weeks, the young duo of Nelson Quinones and Ibrahim Aliyu are transforming the Dynamo attack.
Aliyu's running:
Aliyu is not only keeping the defense honest because of his speed and quickness, but his runs are smart and well-timed. He's not just running to get behind the defense. His angular runs often occupy multiple defenders (CB and FB) and leave wholes for Coco, Bassi, and HH behind him. His runs are not only successful in getting himself behind, but he's drawing enough attention the backside wing is often wide open. Take Baird's goal against Vancouver for example:
But he can also simply turn on the jets and leave the defense with their pants down.
Also important to note that on the other end of these plays is Coco Carrasquilla. Coco's final product in the attacking third has been much maligned and highly criticized this year. But his deep lying playmaking has been heavily on display with Quinones and Aliyu in the starting lineup. Aliyu's ability to stretch the defense plays into both Coco and HH's strengths, and takes pressure off of them from having to do everything in the attack. Aliyu is what this club has desperately needed: (1) A fast runner who can repeat those runs extended time on the pitch (2) A guy that can play with the ball at his feet and make things happen. Take his first touch of the game against Vancouver for example. He positioned himself in the pocket between center backs, took a touch that snuck between both CB's, muscled both CB's off the ball, cut back to his left foot and blasted one on target. It's the kind of sheer talent and willpower that reminds of Alberth Elis. If this team is to have any chance of making the playoffs, and especially making noise once they get there, they have to figure out how to keep him on the field and getting him the ball.
Quinones is bringing both wide play and inverted play.
Baby Face Nelson had an unbelievable week against Chicago and Los Angeles, but his success started back in the 4-0 win vs. Sporting KC in the Open Cup. Nelson has started three games in the USOC, and has terrorized the left wing during that run. Each time we've seen him this year, he was better than the time before. He had Ryan Hollingshead in a blender on Saturday night, and relentlessly beat him one on one. 
While his stats on the year are meager, it's the last week that shows what he can be. He torched Chicago repeatedly, and if that wasn't enough he terrorized the back line of the best team in the league for his entire time on the pitch. In the last two games, he scored two goals, drew two pens, and is beating players both to the touchline and inside. Against LA, he had 28 touches, was 12/14 passing, won 5/9 duels and had a 50% conversion on his take ons in 63 minutes. Against Chicago he played all 90, had 27 touches, was 12/13 passing and was 3/7 on ground duels. While he's still giving the ball away at too high a rate, he's starting to show the end product and danger that we've been lacking. For most of his tenure here he was simply a fast player with no end product, the last two games has shown why they brought him here to begin with. He's a player that has simply gotten better every time he's gotten on the field, and hopefully we continue to see him through the end of the season.
While his stats on the year are meager, it's the last week that shows what he can be. He torched Chicago repeatedly, and if that wasn't enough he terrorized the back line of the best team in the league for his entire time on the pitch. In the last two games, he scored two goals, drew two pens, and is beating players both to the touchline and inside. Against LA, he had 28 touches, was 12/14 passing, won 5/9 duels and had a 50% conversion on his take ons in 63 minutes. Against Chicago he played all 90, had 27 touches, was 12/13 passing and was 3/7 on ground duels. While he's still giving the ball away at too high a rate, he's starting to show the end product and danger that we've been lacking. For most of his tenure here he was simply a fast player with no end product, the last two games has shown why they brought him here to begin with. He's a player that has simply gotten better every time he's gotten on the field, and hopefully we continue to see him through the end of the season.
When it goes together:
When Aliyu dropped his brace against Chicago in the U.S. Open Cup, it started with a tremendous take on by Nelson Quinones and ended with a well-timed back post cover by Aliyu.
Ibrahim Aliyu has his brace and Houston have their third goal! 🇳🇬 🦅 pic.twitter.com/JexB7DUh9p
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 7, 2023
The last four games these two have been in the starting lineup together? 4-0 (LAFC), 4-1 (Chicago), 4-0 (Minnesota United), and 1-0 (Sporting K.C.) That's 12 points in 4 games and a scoreline of 13-1. Add to that a road win in the USOC, and a drubbing of the defending champions and team with the most points per game in the Western Conference, and the results speak for themselves.
Synopsis:
There's enough here to keep Quinones here permanently. He's part of the MLS U-22 initiative, and Pat Onstad should be working to make his loan deal permanently this summer. Nelson is explosive and is finding his niche on the right wing. Aliyu should be the every day, all day #9. With these two the Dynamo have two dynamic athletes with pace that few backline defenses can keep up with. They play well off each other, and the results speak for themselves. The question is who plays with them? (Baird, Bassi, Franco, etc). These two give the attack enough punch to launch the Dynamo into playoff position, especially since they can't be scored on at The Shell.
Next Up:
The Dynamo face LAFC on Wednesday, a team in which they have actually faired well against in recent history going 2-2-2 with a +2 GD dating back to 2020. However, this is a road game on a short week against a team we just played (because MLS completely hosed the Dynamo by moving Wednesday's game there to help LAFC CONCACAF Champions League).
Then, on Saturday the Dynamo return to PNC to play San Jose.
Also, major head nod to this:
Franco Escobar absolute WORLDIE 🔥
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 11, 2023
(via @MLS)pic.twitter.com/n0MfTqdRoW
Until then:
Thanks again for reading.
Remember to always #HoldItDown and stay #ForeverOrange
Brian