Bolanos and the Houston Dynamo had to settle for second in Group L with two wins and a tie. He’s a very important player in their system with his ability to play multiple positions at a high level – he can be used in central defense, in midfield and even as an outside back. Bolanos is very solid defensively, standing out for his positioning and the timing of his tackles. He’s also very clean on the ball and gets to impact the game with his passing, both when leading the team’s buildup or when operating in a more advanced role in the attacking half.

A well-rounded and versatile player who can play anywhere across the backline or in midfield, Bolanos is a key piece in the Dynamo’s defensive system. He’s very good at reading plays and winning duels and is rarely caught out of position, consistently making solid defensive actions in the center of the field. The defender/midfielder also has great quality on the ball, very rarely turning it over and displaying calmness and patience to pick he right passes in the team’s buildup – he’s become more confident to attempt long passes and has been connecting them at a very good rate. Bolanos also makes a positive impact on the team with his ability to deliver great service in set pieces.

The Mexican Youth International played two different roles across the backline and was very efficient in both, adding to the team’s defensive solidness. Bolanos started the match as a right-sided center back and did a very good of stopping AC River’s offensive plays, intercepting passes and challenging their forwards. The defender was also a major factor in how the Dynamo vastly controlled the game in the first half as fellow center back Gavin Wolff Gavin Wolff 5'9" | D State #21 Nation TX and he were both excellent with their buildup, not only helping the team keep the ball, but actually initiating offensive plays and getting AC River out of shape. Bolanos played part of the second half as a right back and was very solid with how he controlled his zone. He provided great service in set pieces and was lucky to have the wind help him register an Olimpico.

Fresh from having helped Mexico qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup, Bolanos played a pivotal role in the Dynamo’s victory and the team’s strong defensive performance. Sitting in front of the team’s backline, the defensive midfielder was very active and made several stops in the center of the field, some of them avoiding what could have been dangerous Minnesota shots. Bolanos also had a key role in the team’s buildup, appearing in different spots to help move the ball forward – he would at times drop between the center back to initiate the construction and on other occasions get on the ball further up, pushing it forward with quick, one-time passes. The midfielder did a great job serving the ball which resulted in the team’s second goal off of a free kick and also appeared well in the attacking half with good switches and a dangerous shot from outside the penalty box in the second half.