Three things we learned: Houston Dynamo vs Chicago Fire
(image via Aldo Canale)
The Houston Dynamo opened their season with a 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire on Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium. After each game this season we’re going to bring you three things we learned from the match. Here is our first edition of the regular season after watching the Dynamo kick things off in 2026.
Guilherme is the real deal
When the Dynamo initially signed Guilherme this offseason, a lot of questions were raised about the quality of Houston’s new Designated Player winger. But after a hat trick in the closing preseason match, and now an incredible brace on opening day, all of those doubts have been silenced. He showcased his speed and skill to finish off a great through ball from Jack McGlynn to tie up the game, then scored the eventual game winner by being the first to react off a saved Ezequiel Ponce shot. Houston may have gotten themselves a new fan favorite in the Brazilian.
The right side needs work
Losing any player just days before the start to a season stings, but the choice to sell Griffin Dorsey this offseason raised many eyebrows across the league. Losing the longest tenured member of your squad, and the only natural right back, was going to be a major talking point coming into the game. It got even louder after a poor Duane Holmes challenge saw him go into the book in the 15th minute. Chicago exploited this hole in the Dynamo squad, putting veteran center-back Erik Sviatchenko in trouble time and time again on the right with Philip Zinckernagel. This high pressure ended up with a poor back pass from Mateusz Bogusz being punished. It’s clear the Dynamo need help on that side, and whether its going to be fixed from moving over a center back or by getting a true Dorsey replacement is yet to be seen.
This team has grit and quality
Going into halftime, Dynamo fans were furious. After an offseason that showed great promise, their team could not muster a single shot on goal, creating just 0.10 xG and falling behind off a poor mistake. However, this Houston team came out of the gates swinging in the second half, playing like a whole new squad by pinning the Fire in their own half and putting them under immense pressure. The Dynamo tallied 8 shots, worth 1.07 xG, and more importantly scored 2 goals to come from behind to win on opening day. For a team that hadn’t won all year after trailing at halftime in 2025 (0-13L-2D), the Dynamo showed character and quality to give their fans an opening match win for the first time since 2021.