Guilherme Brace Leads Dynamo to 2-1 Win
(image via Aldo Canale)
Shell Energy Stadium was the venue as the Houston Dynamo opened their 2026 Major League Soccer regular season against the Chicago Fire. A new look Houston squad looked to turn things around after failing to make the playoffs in 2025.
Houston’s two new Designated Players started with Mateusz Bogusz and Guilherme in the attack alongside the Dynamo’s other DP, Ezequiel Ponce. Fellow newcomers Agustin Bouzat and Lucas Halter also started, in midfield and defense respectively. Duane Holmes got the nod as the right wingback, replacing the recently departed Griffin Dorsey.
Chicago dominated possession in the first half and it paid off with two big chances. Maren Haile-Selassie had a shot at the back post saved by the face of Dynamo goalkeeper Jonathan Bond in the 18th minute. The Fire got their goal off a bad mistake from Bogusz. The Polish attacker tried to pass the ball back and misplaced it, sending it right into the path of Chicago striker Hugo Cuypers. He drove in on goal and beat Bond to put the Fire up 1-0 in the 31st minute.
The Dynamo’s best chance ended up with the offside flag going up. Ezequiel Ponce was played in and his cross bounced around in the box before Bogusz had a shot cleared off the line. Ponce went too early on his run, negating the play.
The Fire took the 1-0 lead into half time. Chicago had the better of play for most of the half but Houston seemed to find its footing late on.
Houston came out in the second half on the front foot pushing for an equalizer. It took until the 67th minute. Jack McGlynn, playing deeper in the midfield in this new tactic, weighted a perfect through ball into Guilherme. The Brazilian ran past the Chicago defense into the box and slotted a left-footed shot past Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady to level the game at 1-1.
One goal wasn’t enough for this Houston side as they looked for a winner. Mateusz Bogusz unleashed from outside the box with his left foot but smashed the past in the 70th minute. The pressure kept up and the Dynamo were rewarded with their second goal.
A ball into the box was brought down perfectly by Ponce and he turned and fired a shot to the bottom corner. Brady made a good save but Guilherme was there to gather the rebound and tuck it home to put the Dynamo ahead 2-1. A brace for the Brazilian on his debut after his hat trick in the final preseason match has endeared the new DP to the Houston fan base.
The Dynamo were able to see out the match behind Guilherme’s brace to pick up the 2-1 win on opening night.
