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Orlando City players stepped aside in order to give winger Justin Meram a prime chance to score his first goal of the season during the club’s 3-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes.
Yoshimar Yotún and Sacha Kljestan both converted penalty kicks earlier in the season. Dom Dwyer scored a goal earlier in the match and has been practically unstoppable inside the 18-yard box since returning from a quad strain.
All three stepped aside so Meram could take the penalty in the 86th minute and open his 2018 MLS scoring account.
His attempt was saved by Quakes goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell.
That’s just how the season has gone so far for the talented 29-year-old attacker, who was acquired in the offseason from the Columbus Crew in exchange for $1.05 million of allocation money. Meram has fired 20 shots, four on target, and hasn’t yet found the back of the net.
Last season with the Crew, he scored a career-high 13 goals in league play.
“Some very good moments, some moments I still need to improve,” Meram said about his first seven games with Orlando City. “I’m still trying to learn every day and get used to the environment, my teammates, my coaching staff, the way we play. Fans might be worried. I’m not worried [about] myself or my ability.
“I still know I have a lot of room to improve, but maybe the Lord’s testing me and my mental strength right now and I have to keep pushing.”
Meram stayed after training Tuesday and worked on finishing alongside rookie Chris Mueller and striker Stéfano Pinho. Drenched in sweat, the three continued to work after other players had left the field.
“The best players in the world miss PKs or miss chances and they look past it and keep moving forward,” Meram said. “That’s what I’m doing here today. I’m out here after training doing more finishing and getting back to my level.”
Meram said it was a classy move for his teammates to give up a penalty kick so he could try for his first goal of the season.
“We joked after the game, he doesn’t want that easy penalty,” Kljestan said. “He wants to score a more difficult, more beautiful goal to get his first one. We wanted him to get that goal. Unfortunately, the goalie made a nice save on him, but he did have a beautiful assist to Dom.
“He definitely came in and made an impact on the game and that’s the most important thing, I think, to get his confidence going again.”
Coach Jason Kreis said Meram “desperately” wants to contribute to Orlando City’s success with the Lions (4-2-1, 13 points) on a four-game winning streak. Meram has come off the bench in the last two matches.
Dwyer said he’s confident in Meram.
“Justin’s a threat, whether it’s scoring goals or setting up goals,” Dwyer said. “Once he can get this monkey off his back, get that first one, I think the floodgates will open for him. I think he’s a very, very talented player and there’s a lot more to come from him.”
Meram has still been effective for Orlando City, despite not scoring a goal. He has three assists, including a through ball to Dwyer for the striker’s 100th pro goal. The two nearly linked up for Dwyer’s 100th goal the previous week in Philadelphia. Dwyer booted Meram’s cross over the crossbar in the 90th minute.
Meram had seven assists last season. In 195 MLS appearances, Meram has 37 goals and 36 assists.
“I’ve always been a player that has as many assists as goals in my career,” Meram said. “For me, I get as much joy setting up players, especially to get Dom his 100th – because clearly he couldn’t do it for me in Philly – so to sub into the game and make a difference within the few minutes feels good for myself.
“I’ve just got to get back to staying positive and playing my game because that’s why I’m here.”