Orlando City Offense Suffers After Striker Recalled
Dom Dwyer is leading the USL PRO league in scoring with 15 goals.
That’s a good thing. The bad thing for the Orlando City Lions, is that Dwyer is no longer playing in the USL PRO.
The 2012 #1 draft choice of Sporting Kansas City, who played collegiate soccer at the University of South Florida, was loaned to the Lions at the start of the 2013 season. Dwyer was one of four loanees through an affiliation agreement with the MLS club.
He set a new league record with his 15th goal in his 13th game with Orlando City. He scored a total of 18 in all competitions.
[show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’] So good was he, that Sporting didn’t allow him to play against Kansas City when the two clubs met in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play.
He didn’t play, but Orlando City beat the defending Open Cup champions anyway on their home turf.
Shortly thereafter, Dwyer’s days were over in Orlando. He was called back to Kansas City.
At the time the Lions were rolling along 10-1-2 and in first place in the league. Orlando City has has won only once since Dwyer left the club. Without him in the lineup they have managed only a 1-1-5 mark, losing to the Richmond Kickers.
“We are always aware of the loan agreement that they (Sporting) could call him up,” said Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath. “We respect that decision and it’s something we knew that could happen.
“He’s a great kid to have around with a great personality, but we are going to continue on with our season.”
The Lions are still in first place, one point ahead of the Kickers, who are unbeaten on the season and who have been chipping away with Orlando City’s lead.
After recalling Dwyer, who has played in four games since his return to Kansas City, Sporting loaned C.J. Sapong to the Lions. He scored one goal in three games and 270 minutes, and was in the game for Orlando’s 2-1 win over the Charleston Battery.
After three games the former James Madison striker, who was the 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year, was also recalled by his MLS club.
“Obviously, C.J. going back is a disappointment.” said Heath. “Within a couple of weeks we’ve lost players and have had a tough stretch.”
It is unlikely that Dwyer will be back in Orlando this season, but who knows. Four appearances as a reserve, no goals and only three shots taken doesn’t reflect an impact like the one he had with the Lions.
Orlando City has six games left in the USL PRO regular season that ends on Aug. 17. Four of the final five games will be at home in the Citrus Bowl.
Should Dwyer not have a breakout game with Sporting Kansas in the coming weeks, there is still time for a return of the league’s top player to Orlando City.
Chances are the Lions still have his jersey in the equipment closet!
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