MLS Round-Up
Monday, July 14, 2014
It might just be coincidence, but whenever Sporting Kansas City’s Dom Dwyer has come up against the Montreal Impact this season, goals have been quick to follow.
Dwyer, a 2013 USL PRO All-League selection for Orlando City, scored his fifth and sixth goals of the season against the Impact this Saturday night - including the game-winner in the 89th minute - to lead SKC to a 2-1 victory to remain in second place in the MLS Eastern Conference standings. Dwyer currently sits second in the race for the MLS Golden Boot with 14 goals, just one short of his regular-season record total for the Lions last season.
“I think I maybe got lucky this year,” Dwyer told SportingKC.com’s Kurt Austin. “I'm just delighted that we have three points. That was the goal tonight and that's all that matters to me. It's nice to get two goals but three points and we're buzzing right now.”
Dwyer became the 10th player in MLS history to score at least six goals in a regular season against the same team, and the first to do so in the league’s post-expansion era since 2005. His work-rate, which was consistently on display in USL PRO last season, has propelled him to the verge of an MLS All-Star Game appearance, and drew the admiration of his head coach.
“He is a handful,” SKC coach Peter Vermes said. “He’s got a work ethic that is incredible and at the same time an incredible hunger to score goals. He really doesn’t stop until you take him off the field. His hunger and his courage are two things that win the day for him.”
The side Sporting KC is chasing in the Eastern Conference, D.C. United, remained two points clear in the standings as former Orange County Blue Star standout Luis Silva had the game-winner in United’s 2-1 win against the San Jose Earthquakes on Friday night.
A pair of former PDL standouts had outstanding finishes that earned nomination for MLS Goal of the Week, as 2012 All-League selection Deshorn Brown of the Colorado Rapids and 2012 All-Western Conference selection Gyasi Zardes of the LA Galaxy both helped their sides earn points on Saturday.
At the other end of the field, former Michigan Bucks goalkeeper Steve Clark of the Columbus Crew and former Atlanta Blackhawks goalkeeper Sean Johnson were nominated for MLS Save of the Week. Johnson’s penalty save - and performance overall - proved crucial as the Fire took a 1-0 win against the New England Revolution, and earned him MLS Team of the Week honors.
Other PDL alumni named to the Team of the Week included former Austin Aztex midfielder Dillon Powers, who helped Colorado rally to earn a 3-3 draw in Philadelphia, and former Cleveland Internationals defender Chris Korb, who helped D.C. United remain solid at the back as it claimed victory in San Jose.