Dom Dwyer loaned to Orlando City SC for USL PRO Championship, will miss Columbus match

Announced Wednesday, Sporting Kansas City has agreed to loan forward Dom Dwyer to Orlando City SC for Saturday's USL PRO championship match. Dwyer will return to the Lions for the first time since June after netting 15 goals in just 13 matches during the USL PRO regular season.

"Dom spent a good portion of the year in Orlando," Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes said. "We're very respectful of our partnership with them and we feel it's important that we provide them every opportunity out of the partnership that we agreed to. We wish them all the success and I'm sure Dom will be a great help to them."

Dwyer began the season in Orlando alongside Sporting Kansas City teammates, Jon Kempin and Christian Duke. Despite having to miss Saturday's match against the Columbus Crew (7:30, Sporting Park), Dwyer says he is thrilled to have an opportunity to bring a championship back to Sporting Kansas City's USL PRO affiliate.

"I'm excited to go, but disappointed to miss the Sporting KC game on Saturday," Dwyer exclaimed. "It's the championship game and I started my season with Orlando so I'm delighted to have the opportunity to help them out. Hopefully I can make a difference and bring back a championship."

Orlando City SC coach Adrian Heath commented on the agreement Wednesday: "Obviously we are delighted to have him back," said Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath. "He's a great guy and did a fantastic job for us on the football field. It's a great gesture from Sporting KC to release him for the final, and we hope he can produce the same goal-scoring efforts like he usually does on Saturday."

Orlando City SC will take the pitch Saturday against the Charlotte Eagles for the USL PRO title (7:30 EST) in Orlando, Florida at Fifth Third Bank Field at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Dom Dwyer's absence puts an already thin Sporting Kansas City lineup in a difficult position heading into Saturday's crucial matchup against the Columbus Crew. The home side will be without Kei Kamara (transferred to Middlesbrough FC Monday), Peterson Joseph & Meshack Jerome (Haitian National Team), Matt Besler & Graham Zusi (United States National Team), and the aforementioned Dwyer.