Dom Dwyer wasn’t named Most Valuable Player in USL PRO this season – that honor went to former New York Red Bulls forward Jose Angulo. But Dwyer had the last word on Saturday.
The Sporting KC attacker (above) returned to Orlando on a one-game loan for the USL PRO championship, and he went to work, scoring four goals and adding an assist in a thrilling 7-4 victory over the Charlotte Eagles in front of 20,886 fans at the Florida Citrus Bowl. The league title was the MLS-hopeful club's second third-division championship in three seasons.
That capped an amazing season for the 23-year-old, who was also the USL PRO’s co-Golden Boot winner with 15 goals in 13 league games, even with Angulo. Dwyer completed his time with Orlando City in 2013 with 22 goals through all competitions.
In the second-division NASL, Richard Sanchez continues to play the lead role for MLSers on loan. His Fort Lauderdale strikers failed to score a goal on 10-man San Antonio on Saturday, but the FC Dallas goalkeeper made two huge saves and threw his third straight clean sheet to keep the Strikers in a three-way tie for first place.
Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake’s Enzo Martinez notched a goal and an assist, but his Carolina RailHawks couldn’t pull into first place all alone after a 3-2 loss at Tampa Bay Rowdies. LA Galaxy duo Bryan Gaul and Kenney Walker both went 90 for the RailHawks.
FC Edmonton again benefited from the services of Vancouver striker Corey Hertzog, who a scored a crucial goal in a 1-1 draw with Minnesota United. Montreal loanee Calum Mallace started and went the distance for Minnesota, while fellow Impact midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic entered as 60th-minute substitute, only to receive a red card one minute later.
Here's the full rundown of MLSers on loan this past week:
NASL
Minnesota United FC 1, FC Edmonton 1; Saturday, Sept. 7
M Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Minnesota (Montreal Impact) - Substitute, played 1 minute
M Calum Mallace, Minnesota (Montreal Impact) - Started, played 90 minutes
F Corey Hertzog, Edmonton (Vancouver Whitecaps) - Started, played 90 minutes, one goal
Carolina RailHawks 2, Tampa Bay Rowdies 3; Saturday, Sept. 7
M Enzo Martinez (Real Salt Lake) - Started, played 87 minutes, one goal, one assist
D Bryan Gaul (LA Galaxy) - Started, played 90 minutes
M Kenney Walker (LA Galaxy) - Started, played 90 minutes
Ft. Lauderdale 0, San Antonio Scorpions 0; Saturday, Sept. 7
F Bradlee Baladez (FC Dallas) - Substitute, played 14 minutes
GK Richard Sanchez (FC Dallas) - Started, played 90 minutes
USL PRO
Orlando City SC 7, Charlotte Eagles 4; Saturday, Sept. 7
M Christian Duke (Sporting KC) - Started, played 69 minutes
F Dom Dwyer (Sporting KC) - Started, played 89 minutes, four goals, one assist
