PORTLAND, Ore.
It turns out Dom Dwyer is heading to Portland for the MLS All-Star Game after all.
Dwyer stood out as one of the biggest snubs on the original 23-man roster after his breakout campaign, but the Sporting Kansas City forward will join teammates Matt Besler, Aurélien Collin and Graham Zusi in the squad to face Bayern Munich on Wednesday after receiving a late call-up to the team.
All-Star coach Caleb Porter summoned Dwyer to Portland on Sunday after Toronto FC forward Jermain Defoe withdrew through injury. Defoe missed TFC's 2-0 victory at Montréal on Saturday with a groin complaint. The knock proved significant enough to prompt his exit from the midweek exhibition and provide an opportunity for Dwyer to join the congregation in his stead.
"I am excited to play with some of the best players in Major League Soccer and in the world," Dwyer said in a statement. "It should be a memorable week and I look forward to the events, the game and representing MLS."
Dwyer missed the cut from the initial squad given the considerable competition for places up front, but his performances and his production (second on the scoring chart with 14 goals in 22 appearances) made him the natural choice to replace Defoe.
He joins Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders FC), Erick Torres (Chivas USA) and top scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls) to comprise Porter's options up front for the match at Providence Park.
