Orlando City SC has scored the fourth-most goals in the Eastern Conference, so far, in 2018 but have faltered lately, scoring just three times in the last three games.

ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s almost unquantifiable how much forward Dom Dwyer means to Orlando City SC.

Almost.

The 27-year-old has, so far, scored six goals in seven appearances but has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury. His absence, in part, has led to Orlando City losing their last three games, most recently a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire on May 25.

But even without Dwyer, the Lions had their chances to salvage at least a point at home. Orlando City out-shot (20-10, 5-4 on-goal) and out-possessed (60.2 percent-39.8 percent) Chicago while also recording more corners (7-3) in the weekend loss.

For third-year Lions boss Jason Kreis, City didn’t need Dwyer to earn a result against the Fire.

“For me, it’s not about Dom Dwyer or not Dom Dwyer,” Kreis said after the loss. “There was (sic) players on the field tonight that played very well, that gave enough, on most nights, to win games. It’s about making the plays when it counts the most…”

With Dwyer, Orlando City are 6-1-0, scoring 18 goals (2.6 goals per game); without him, they’re winless with an 0-4-1 record and four goals (0.8 goals per game).

The Lions have found goal-scorers besides Dwyer, though, as there are three other Lions tied for the team’s second-most goals with three each: midfielders Yoshimar Yotún and Cristian Higuita and rookie Chris Mueller.

Unfortunately for City, Yotún, who also leads the team in assists with five, is currently away on national-team duty with Peru. Mueller also hasn’t scored since a 3-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on April 21 but has tallied an assist in each of the last two games.

As for Higuita, he’s been a surprising spark for Orlando City’s attack, as he scored only twice in the past three seasons. In 2018, though, the 24-year-old Colombian has scored three goals, including equalizers in the last two City losses.

“[Higuita’s] getting himself into some really good spots–really good spots. Another, I think, really positive performance for an individual player,” Kreis said. “Unfortunately, hard to count it as too positive because we lost the game, but he’s getting himself into some great spots, attacking-wise…

“Yep, he’s doing well. But, yeah, the flip side is we need other players to step up and make special plays in the attacking third.”

One of those players includes Major League Soccer rookie Stéfano Pinho. The two-time North American Soccer League Golden Boot winner and two-time NASL MVP has scored only once in 10 appearances and four starts, including a 64-minute, starting shift against TFC in which he tallied only one shot.

City are also relying on some of MLS’s most-experienced veterans.

Midfielder Sacha Kljestan, who has led the league in assists for the last two seasons, has produced two goals and four assists in 10 starts. His set-up abilities were on display, as he created a game-high six chances against the Fire.

As for forward Justin Meram, he joined City this offseason after spending the last seven seasons with Columbus Crew SC. In 2017, Meram scored a career-high 13 goals, his first double-digit total of his career. But, so far in 2018, Meram has scored only one goal on 36 shots (10 on-goal) and has tallied three assists in 12 appearances.

Against Chicago, Kljestan and Meram combined for six shots (one on-goal by Meram). Left back Mohamed El-Munir, who has an assist in 2018, led the Lions in on-goal efforts with two.

“Again, I don’t want to really say that if we have Dom in there, we win the game,” Kreis said. “No, we had players out there that played well enough, performed well enough and should have been able to finish off that game.”

Sitting in fifth place, the Lions, now, embark on a three-game road trip, starting with New York City FC on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Edits Log:

5/28/18, 9:19 p.m.: Fixed a statistical error regarding how many goals per game Orlando City have with Dwyer.

For more on the Lions, as they look to escape their current rut, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.

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