Nelson Quiñónes continues explosive week as Houston Dynamo score four on LAFC

The Houston Dynamo are back above the playoff line after a win over LAFC.

Nelson Quinones, Amine Bassi, Corey Baird, and Franco Escobar scored in a dominant 4-0 victory over the defending MLS Cup champions and Concacaf Champions League runners-up. Houston improved to 6-1-1 at home and posted its sixth shutout of the season in league play.

"That's a huge result," said assistant coach Brendan Burke. "To have a big performance in you like that, when they roll out most of their heavy hitters, despite their schedule, I think is a really positive sign of things to come here."

Burke was the acting head coach for this match as Ben Olsen served a suspension for yellow card accumulation. Formerly with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Burke joined the Dynamo this past January after the club paid his release clause.

Winger Nelson Quiñones got the scoring started in the 11th minute to pick up his first MLS goal. He then earned a penalty in the opening moments of the second half that led to the Bassi conversion in the 50th.

"Nelson did his defensive work and he’s quite frankly on fire right now," said Burke. "That kid terrorized Chicago, and he terrorized those guys tonight. He’s growing up before our eyes, it’s great to see. We also talked about trying to sustain a little bit more which I don’t think came out in the second half, but because we were able to find the second goal, the game got really stretched."

Two former LAFC players scored against their former clubs for the last two goals. Baird came off the bench to score in the 69th, while Escobar capped off the night with a rocket in the 89th minute.

Here's what stood out from this match:

Nelson Quiñones running wild

Combined with a 4-1 win over Chicago in Open Cup play, the Dynamo have scored eight goals this week. Quiñones played a part in both of those games along with Aliyu Ibrahim, as the two provide a wide game reminiscent of the last time the Dynamo made the playoffs.

Quiñones had not seen much playing time on loan from Once Caldas until recently. He needed to, not just because the wide game was essentially nonexistent but because the Dynamo had not seen enough from him to make an informed decision on activating his purchase clause before the June 30 deadline – a move fans are now eager to see as well as the player himself.

"I don't know anything," Quiñones said on the status of his loan in Houston. "I really want to stay at this club, but there's still nothing concrete. I am in wait, but I would love to stay."

One would think the Colombian will likely stay based on his current production – whether that means renewing his loan, exercising his purchase option, or negotiating his sale for a lower price. If the team were to lose him, the attack becomes a bit more one-sided again with Ibrahim as the only other player that could bring a similar pace.

The rollercoaster keeps moving

It was just the previous week that the Dynamo allowed nine goals in two away games. It's just more of the up-and-down nature of this season that has the team like a rollercoaster, in and out, around the playoff line.

Burke mentioned in his post-match thoughts that consistency is the target for the team. Another clean sheet at home was also a feat and one that the team wants to return to on a regular basis.

"We looked like a really good team for 90 minutes," said defender Erik Sviatchenko. "Even though they had some threats the other way, I think we controlled many aspects of the game really well. It was tough for everyone to play out there, me included. I’m still getting back to my fitness and to get almost 80 minutes was a good thing. I’m just proud of the team in general that we were able to perform against a top team in the league. A team that was just in the Concacaf final, maybe they’ve been traveling and playing lots of games, but that doesn’t mean we cannot perform. We did that, and it was great to see."

LAFC's fatigue, and heartbreak from losing the Concacaf Champions League final, were arguably factors, but the three points count the same. The Dynamo will face LAFC again on Wednesday, this time at BMO Stadium, and perhaps this can all build to a first win away from Shell Energy Stadium.

Embracing 'Hell in the Shell'

The Dynamo's home record has been integral to their success this year. It was the key for the 2017 season, the team's previous playoff qualification, and it certainly seems like it could be the formula this year until away results prove otherwise.

At least for the fans that make it out to the stadium, it's almost guaranteed good times. Four goals gave the faithful plenty to celebrate and the lore of "Hell in the Shell" is growing, with the players embracing the name and the moment.

"Yes, it's hell for whoever comes in," said Herrera. "It's very hot."

"It's the nonsense that happens here in the dressing room," Herrera said of the team's celebration. "We had been doing it for a long time. It started with Steve, Amine, me, Nelson and the others and it spread to everyone. We all started to jump in the dressing room and today we agreed here, right in the dressing room, because when we arrived we were all with the foolishness and we said, 'Whoever scores a goal, the first thing is we're going to the bench to celebrate everyone together' and do the celebration. I think that this is a good reflection of what the group is, what the team is, and when there is that union, that joy within the group, its easier for things to go well."