Forward | Houston Dynamo | Honduras

Skinny

Alberth Elis did all the hard work in 2017, earning a permanent move to Houston Dynamo after impressing during a loan spell from Monterrey. The test then, though, was to continue such impressive form in the MLS.

Strictly speaking Elis is a striker, but he has performed more effectively as a right inside forward or right winger in 2018, using pace and dribbling ability to beat players with relative ease.

He is by no means a new lad on the block, though, despite only playing two seasons of MLS football. He made his Olimpia debut back in 2013 and earned his first full cap for Honduras a year later - at 22 he has plenty of international experience but has struggled to keep his place in the Honduras set-up.

2018 has been…

…inconsistent.

Given his break through year in the MLS earned him a permanent transfer to Houston Dynamo, 2018 was the year we wanted to see Elis get even better and although that may not have been the case, the youngster has enjoyed a decent 2018.

His season began impressively, scoring and assisting two in Dynamo’s opening four MLS fixtures and by the time May came around he had eight goals and four assists to his name, which is an impressive return for a player deployed mostly on the right wing.

A red card in a 1-0 defeat to Kansas all but ended his purple patch in the MLS, and he could only muster up two goals and two assists from his final eight appearances after returning from a two-match suspension.

Despite all that, Elis’ early season form saw him called up for the MLS All Stars clash v. Juventus in June and in September his two assists helped Dynamo to a 3-0 victory over Philadelphia Union to secure the club’s first ever US Open Cup.

The 2018 MLS season ended with Elis registering 21 combined goals and assists, which now stands as a Houston Dynamo club record.

What’s next?

While Elis’ MLS form in 2018 looks great on paper, he must be more consistent if he is to reach his full potential.

There’s no doubt he’ll be looking at a move to Europe if he can continue what he’s doing, but adding consistency and goals to his game would boost his chances no end.

C