Guilherme nets pair as Dynamo rally past Fire

Brazilian scores twice in MLS debut to lead Houston comeback

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Guilherme scored two goals in his MLS debut to lead the Houston Dynamo to a 2-1 comeback victory over the visiting Chicago Fire in the season opener for both clubs on Saturday. The Brazilian, signed as a designated player in the offseason, equalized in the 67th minute and then scored the game-winner in the 78th minute after the Fire had taken an early 1-0 lead.

Why it matters

The Dynamo's comeback win showcases the impact of their offseason roster moves, particularly the signing of Guilherme as a designated player. The result also highlights the competitiveness of the early MLS season as teams look to gain an advantage in the standings.

The details

After a slow start where they managed just two shots in the first half, the Dynamo came out aggressively in the second half. Guilherme equalized in the 67th minute with a solo run and finish, then scored the winner 11 minutes later by pouncing on a rebound. The Fire had taken the lead in the 31st minute through a goal by Hugo Cuypers, but were unable to hold on.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
  • Guilherme scored the equalizer in the 67th minute.
  • Guilherme scored the game-winning goal in the 78th minute.

The players

Guilherme

A Brazilian player signed as a designated player by the Houston Dynamo in the offseason, who scored two goals in his MLS debut to lead his team to victory.

Hugo Cuypers

A player for the Chicago Fire who scored the opening goal in the 31st minute to give his team an early lead.

Chris Brady

The goalkeeper for the Chicago Fire who made several key saves but was unable to prevent the Dynamo's comeback.

Jonathan Bond

The goalkeeper for the Houston Dynamo who was beaten on Cuypers' goal but made other saves to keep his team in the game.

Ezequiel Ponce

A player for the Houston Dynamo whose shot led to the rebound that Guilherme scored the game-winning goal on.

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What they’re saying

“Guilherme's debut performance was exactly what we needed to kickstart our season. He showed his quality and composure to lead our comeback.”

— Paulo Nagamura, Houston Dynamo Head Coach (Houston Chronicle)

What’s next

The Dynamo will look to build on this opening win as they continue their season, while the Fire will aim to bounce back in their next match.

The takeaway

The Dynamo's ability to rally from an early deficit and the impact of their offseason signing Guilherme demonstrate the competitiveness and unpredictability that fans can expect in the early stages of the new MLS season.