If Sporting KC had plans of using reserves for the Open Cup, apparently Dom Dwyer is not a part of them as the red-hot goal scorer for Orlando City netted once again on loan while leading the USL Pro side to a 2-1 victory against the PDL Ocala Stampede.
The victory secured a home fixture next Tuesday against the Colorado Rapids at the Citrus Bowl in the Third Round.
Dwyer nearly wowed the crowd 20 minutes in with a bicycle kick, but made up for the missed effort seven minutes later via a play created on a turnover off an Ocala throw-in that defender Erik Ustruck stole and sent into the box. The ball deflected off a defender inside the area, falling to Dwyer, who looped it over goalkeeper Lex Craggs for the only goal of the half.
Five minutes into the second stanza a little free space allowed little used Adama Mbengue to tally his first goal of the year, firing into the lower right corner from about 17 yards for what proved to be the game winner with Ocala responding eight minutes later.
The hosts attempted to fight back against the USL Pro league leaders, but it took repeated efforts on one play to beat goalkeeper Jon Kempin, who made the initial stop on a 58th minute penalty by Christian Blandon. Kempin made up for the foul that led to the penalty with the penalty stop and a second on a rebound, but Blandon got one more bite at the apple and finally buried it.
The victory makes Orlando City perfect in four games against equal or lesser competition over the past three years, but the last two outings against MLS opposition have ended in one-goal defeats as they fell by the same 3-2 in Dallas in 2011 and in Kansas City a year ago.