ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 9, 2020) – Orlando City SC forward Daryl Dike was voted the MLS Player of the Month by members of the media for the month of August of the 2020 MLS season.
Dike finished August with three goals and two assists in three matches played, as his five combined goals and assists tied for the most in the month. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, Dike has totaled three goals and three assists across five matches played this season. Orlando sits fourth in the Eastern Conference standings with 14 points (4-2-4 overall record).
Making his first career MLS regular season appearance and first career start, Dike scored a goal and added an assist in Orlando’s 3-2 road loss at Inter Miami CF on Aug. 22. Dike scored his first career professional goal in the 18th minute to bring the match even at 1-1, finishing a left-footed shot from the right side of the box after his initial two shot attempts were saved and blocked (watch goal ). With Orlando trailing 3-1, Dike garnered his first career assist on Nani’s 80th minute goal to bring the match within one (watch assist).
The 20-year-old rookie guided Orlando to a 3-1 win over Nashville SC on Aug. 26 at Exploria Stadium with the first brace of his career. Dike gave Orlando a 2-1 lead in the 52nd minute when he finished a breakaway pass from Mauricio Pereyra with a right-footed shot into the top right corner (watch goal ). Orlando took a decisive 3-1 advantage in the 72nd minute on Dike’s second goal of the match when he recovered a saved shot attempt and finished with a right-footed strike from close range (watch goal).
Dike closed the month with another assist, this time on Chris Mueller’s 35th minute score in Orlando’s 3-1 victory over Atlanta United on Aug. 29 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (watch assist). He currently sits tied for the team lead in assists with three on the year.
Orlando continues action on Saturday against Inter Miami CF at Exploria Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, Fox 35 Plus).
MLS Player of the Month is voted upon by a panel of select national media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications.
