Photo by USA TODAY Sports
By DAN KARELL
Dom Dwyer has been handed a new contract on the heels of a breakout season in a Sporting Kansas City uniform.
Sporting KC announced on Wednesday afternoon that they’ve signed Dwyer to a contract extension. Per club and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“I am ecstatic to commit my future to Kansas City,” Dwyer said in a statement. “I want to thank the coaches and ownership for having faith in me. Also, a special thanks to the fans for all of their continued support. I am excited to get going again. Last year was a starting point for what is to come in the future, which is scoring a lot more goals, driving to win championships and enjoying myself on and off the field in a city with supporters to which I have grown to love and embrace.”
The Englishman scored 23 goals and one assist in his first full year with Sporting KC. Dwyer made 32 starts in 34 games in MLS action. He also scored one goal in five appearances between the U.S. Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League.
Dwyer currently holds the Sporting KC franchise record for goals scored in a single season, beating Preki’s mark last September.
Here are some more notes from around MLS:
TIMBERS TO HOST FIRE, WHITECAPS, STABAEK IN PRESEASON TOURNAMENT
The Portland Timbers’ annual preseason tournament will have a former U.S. Men’s National Team coach taking part in the event.
The Timbers confirmed recent reports on Wednesday that Bob Bradley and Stabaek will be taking part in the tournament, set to take place between Feb. 22-28 at Providence Park. Also taking part will be the Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps.
Games at the “Simple Invitational” will take place on Feb. 22, Feb. 25, and Feb. 28. Stabaek will take on the Fire first, Whitecaps second, and then the Timbers last to close out the tournament.
EARTHQUAKES SIGN LENHART TO NEW CONTRACT
The other half of the bash brothers is staying in Northern California.
Steven Lenhart has signed a new contract with the San Jose Earthquakes, the team announced on Wednesday afternoon. Per club and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are happy to sign Steven to a new contract,” Earthquakes head coach Dominic Kinnear said in a statement. “When Steven is playing and being productive, we all know the team benefits from that. We’re looking forward to a productive season from him in 2015.”
Lenhart, 28, scored just twice last season in all competitions, enduring an injury-riddled campaign for the lowly Earthquakes.
FIRE HEADED TO ENGLAND FOR PRESEASON
New York City FC aren’t the only MLS team headed to the home of soccer next February.
The Chicago Fire announced plans to spend nearly two weeks training in England, including friendly matches against Norwich and Queens Park Rangers. The Fire will report for preseason training on Jan. 25 at Toyota Park for entrance physicals and then train in Chicago for a week before heading to England on Feb. 1.
“I’m looking forward to getting the full group together so we can hit the ground running right from the start,” Fire head coach Frank Yallop said in a statement. “Preseason is an important time that will set the tone for opening week. We’ll be utilizing top facilities, including our own right here in Chicago, and we have put together a slate of competitive matches that especially with our exciting new additions, will help the team come together and be ready to compete.”
The Fire will begin their England stay in Norwich from Feb. 2-10, which will include a friendly match on Feb. 5. On Feb. 10 the Fire will travel to London and spend three days training at QPR’s training facility. The Fire will face QPR in a friendly on Feb. 12 and return home the next day.
Frank Yallop and his squad will then spend another week in Chicago before heading out west to Portland for the Simple Invitational.
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What do you think of this news? Did you expect to see Dwyer sign an extension with Sporting KC instead of heading back to England? Excited to see Bob Bradley coach in the Timbers’ tournament?
Share your thoughts below.
MLS teams should be playing foreign opposition rather than playing teams they will evenually be meeting later in the season. Tournaments would be more interesting and improve the level of our teams by seeing how we rank against Foreign opposition. They should be playing mostly Allsvenskan (Sweden), Tippeligaen and Liga MX teams in preparation for the season (EPL, Serie A and Bundesliga are out of our league)
???
EPL, Serie A and Bundesliga teams come here frequently to play friendlies in the summer.
No foreign team is going to want to come here for a pre-season tourney or warmup friendly who is themselves in the middle of the season (which is why most European teams come in the summer). Norway and Sweden however play basically the same calendar so they are willing to come over in February since it is pre-season tune up for them too.