Mateusz Bogusz, Dynamo take baby steps over Timbers
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Carlos Leon-Trejo, Contributor
- March 15, 2026
Mateusz Bogusz pays tribute to pregnant wife
HOUSTON – After lifting the Dynamo to a 3–2 victory over the Portland Timbers, Mateusz Bogusz tucked the ball under his jersey. The Polish midfielder’s gesture was a tribute to his pregnant wife.
Bogusz, 24, dedicated his first goal as a Dynamo player to his wife as they prepare for their daughter’s birth.
“To my wife,” Bogusz said. ”We’re going to have a daughter in July, so that was good to score, so I can do this celebration.”
Better late than never
Bogusz scored in the 105th minute for the second‑latest regulation goal in MLS history. Only Tom Barlow’s goal in the 107th minute April 8, 2023, was scored later in a regulation game.
The Dynamo signed Bogusz after he had a standout run with Cruz Azul, where he made 39 Liga MX appearances and produced three goals and seven assists.
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He helped Cruz Azul win the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, reach the semifinals in both the Apertura and Clausura, and earn a place in the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup. Before that, he made 60 MLS appearances with LAFC and delivered a 20‑goal season in 2024.
In first-half stoppage time, Kingwood Park alum Gage Guerra put the Timbers on the board after Dynamo goalkeeper Jonathan Bond stopped a penalty. He drove a low right‑footed shot from the right side of the box into the back of the net after Bond initially stopped the penalty.
In the 62nd minute, Bogusz delivered a curling cross from the right, midfielder Guilherme Santos jumped and headed from the center of the box into the bottom right corner inside the far post to level the score. The Dynamo pressed. In the 77th minute, defender Felipe Andrade stepped into the outside of the box and drilled a low right‑footed strike to the left corner, putting the Dynamo in the lead for the first time.
Three minutes later, Portland defender Finn Surman gathered a rebound in the area and slipped a short pass to forward Kristoffer Velde at the top of the box. Velde threaded a right‑footed shot into Bond’s lower-left corner to level the game at 2–2.
Dynamo builds camaraderie
With the match deep into stoppage time, Bogusz capped his standout night in the 105th minute. Latching onto midfielder Jack McGlynn’s long pass for a breakaway, he drove up the left flank, cut inside, and fired a right‑footed finish across goal and into the lower far post, sealing a dramatic late win for the Dynamo.
After the match, Bogusz pointed to the team’s growing unity and how the team’s blend of backgrounds is shaping its chemistry.
“We have a lot of nationalities, but I don’t think it’s a problem, you know?” he said. “Everyone has a different idea of how to play football, and I think we can learn from each other. I really like it because we have players from Brazil, from Europe, from different parts of the world, and I think we have a very good group.
“We just need a little bit more time because there are a lot of faces. My feeling is every week we are getting closer. We know each other more, so I’m believing this is going to be a good season. We just need the time.”
Carlos Leon-Trejo
Contributor
Carlos Leon-Trejo is a co-host on the Bring on the Blitz! podcast on the Our Esquina network. A graduate of the Texas A&M-Victoria, his reporting credits include major stages such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Big 12 Championship.
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