On Saturday, Sept. 24 the San Jose Earthquakes will face Sporting Kansas City at Avaya Stadium in the second of three matches between the two Western Conference sides this season.
In the first match at Avaya Stadium in 2016 against Sporting, the Earthquakes won 1-0 with a penalty from Chris Wondolowski. Since the first encounter, the Earthquakes have changed a little bit with a couple of new additions.
Darwin Ceren joined the club from Orlando City SC, with whom he started his professional career in the U.S. while Orlando was still in the United Soccer League.
This stop in his career is something he shares in common with Sporting Kansas City’s top goal scorer Dom Dwyer.
Ceren joined Orlando City in 2014 from El Salvador’s Juventud Independiente, laying the foundation for his future MLS career.
“When Orlando first approached me and I found out it was in USL, I was not sure about joining as I was playing in the first division and it seemed like a setback,” Ceren said. “When they told me that Orlando City is going to be the new expansion team in MLS in 2015 and they guaranteed me a contract in MLS, I changed my mind.
“I think the first year in USL was very important for me because it helped me adapt to the city, the environment, the playing style, the fields. To pretty much everything.”
During the 2014 USL season, Ceren made 22 appearances, scored two goals and made three assists for Orlando City.
“This decision changed my life and the lives of my wife and children as we started a new adventure outside our country and customs,” Ceren said. “I went with the objective to be better each day. I worked hard and earned the right to be in the first team in MLS.”
One-year prior in 2013, Dom Dwyer played for Orlando City on loan from Sporting Kansas City. This turned out to be a breakout season for the Englishman as he broke the USL Pro record for goals in a single season with 15 goals in 13 appearances.
“Initial reaction I was not too happy, I wanted to be in Kansas City,” Dwyer told Sportingkc.com in 2014. “It was something that was meant to be and it worked perfectly for everyone. Getting regular playing time in games is exactly what I needed.”
Dwyer was eventually recalled from his loan early, playing 16 games and starting seven in the 2013 MLS season. In all competitions in 2013, including USL Pro, Open Cup, MLS, MLS Cup Playoffs and CCL, Dwyer scored 26 goals.
Now Ceren and Dwyer have integrated themselves into their respective clubs, each will be looking to secure the win on Saturday with Dwyer looking to score for Sporting and Ceren holding down the fort in defensive midfield for the Quakes.
