Orlando City was already doing pretty well, but the return of Daryl Dike to the Lions' lineup has made them one of the most dangerous MLS sides.
In his second game and first start since rejoining the squad since his successful loan to Barnsley, Dike struck twice in Orlando's 5-0 home victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday, June 22.
With Orlando enjoying a two-goal advantage, Dike made his presence felt in the 31st minute. The 21-year-old striker latched onto a Nani feed before beating goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski.
HIGHLIGHTS: Orlando City 5-0 San Jose Earthquakes
Four minutes into the second half, the duo teamed up again. This time Dike headed home Nani's free kick from the right edge of the penalty area for a 4-0 lead.
Fellow U.S. international Chris Mueller certainly had his best week of the season for the Lions.
On Tuesday, the 24-year-old forward set up the first goal of Benji Michel's brace. Mueller ran towards the edge of the area before finding Michel, who scored for a 2-0 margin in the 16th minute.
Mueller equaled former Orlando City captain Kaká for the most assists in team history with 22.
Three days later on Friday, June 26, Mueller, who tallied a career-high 10 goals in 2020, found the net for the first time this season in the 2-1 win over Inter Miami CF.
Goals like that are never easy 💵 @cmueller1662 | #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/HvGVnjKLUs
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) June 26, 2021
Mueller, who came on for Mauricio Pereyra at halftime, combined with Nani for the equalizing goal in the 73rd minute. Robin Jansson began the sequence, sending a ball over the top to Nani. He crossed it into the box to Mueller, who one-timed his shot home for a 1-1 deadlock.
Orlando City (6-1-3, 21 points) is in second place in the Eastern Conference, trailing the New England Revolution (7-2-2, 23) by two points.
GOALS EARLY AND LATE
Midfielder Cristian Roldan started Seattle Sounders FC to its 2-1 home win over Real Salt Lake on June 23 by connecting for his second goal of the season and 24th in his MLS career in the 58th minute. After Will Bruin's shot inside the penalty area was saved, Roldan pounced on the loose ball for an easy tap-in.
🗣 "It was Cristian Roldan who swept the ball home"@CristianRoldan's goal is the @EQCasino Play of the Match from #SEAvRSL! ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/5EMnam6J5x
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) June 25, 2021
Cade Cowell made the most of his 36 minutes as a substitute in the San Jose Earthquakes' 3-1 home loss to the LA Galaxy on Saturday, June 26, tallying a consolation goal in the 82nd minute. The 17-year-old midfielder has three goals in 11 matches this season, compared to one in 19 appearances in 2020.
SHUTOUT AND AN ASSIST
New York City FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson certainly enjoyed a productive and unique week with a clean sheet and an assist. On June 23, the team captain made three saves to backstop a 1-0 home victory over Atlanta United.
On Sunday, June 27, Johnson allowed an early goal, but played an important role on the game-winning score. After making a save five minutes into second-half stoppage time in a tied game, Johnson threw the ball to the right flank for Thiago Andrade. The Brazilian then went on a 70-yard jaunt before scoring against keeper Bill Hamid for one of the most dramatic and memorable goals in MLS history in a 2-1 triumph at Red Bull Arena.
We ❤️ goalkeeper assists! pic.twitter.com/81KNPU2O41
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 28, 2021
THE RUNDOWN
-- Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at Sporting Kansas City (June 23)
-- Paul Arriola (D.C. United; MLS) – 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at New York City FC (June 27); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at CF Montreal (June 23)
-- Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC; MLS) - Not in 18, DNP in 2-0 loss vs. FC Cincinnati (June 26); Not in 18, DNP in 3-2 loss at Nashville SC (June 23)
-- Julian Araujo (Los Angeles Galaxy; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-1 win at San Jose Earthquakes (June 26); 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Vancouver Whitecaps FC (June 23)
-- George Bello (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. New York Red Bulls (June 27); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at New York City FC (June 23)
-- Michael Bradley (Toronto FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. FC Cincinnati (June 27); 90 minutes and ASSIST in 3-2 loss at Nashville SC (June 23)
-- Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) - 45 minutes in 1-1 draw at America Mineiro (June 27); 34 minutes as a substitute in 2-1 win at Chapecoense (June 24)
-- Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 36 minutes as a substitute and a GOAL in 3-1 loss vs. LA Galaxy (June 26); 50 minutes as a substitute in 5-0 loss at Orlando City SC (June 22)
-- Daryl Dike (Orlando City SC; MLS) - 64 minutes in 2-1 win at Inter Miami CF (June 25); 71 minutes and TWO GOALS in 5-0 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes (June 22)
-- Brad Guzan (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. New York Red Bulls (June 27); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at New York City FC (June 23)
-- Bill Hamid (D.C. United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at New York City FC (June 27); 90 minutes and SHUTOUT in 0-0 draw at CF Montreal (June 23)
-- Sean Johnson (New York City FC; MLS) - 90 minutes and ASSIST in 2-1 win vs. D.C. United (June 27); 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. Atlanta United (June 23)
-- Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 45 minutes as substitute in 3-1 loss at FC Sporting Kansas City (June 23)
-- Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; MLS) - 63 minutes in 3-1 win at San Jose Earthquakes (June 26); 90 minutes and ASSIST in 2-1 win at Vancouver Whitecaps FC (June 23)
-- Djordje Mihailovic (CF Montreal; MLS) - 90 minutes and ASSIST in 1-1 draw at Nashville SC (June 26); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. D.C. United (June 23)
-- Chris Mueller (Orlando City; MLS) - 45 minutes as substitute and GOAL in 2-1 win at Inter Miami CF (June 25); 77 minutes and ASSIST in 5-0 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes (June 22)
-- David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake; MLS) - 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Houston Dynamo (June 26); 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at FC Dallas (June 23)
-- Andrés Perea (Orlando City; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 win at Inter Miami CF (June 25); 90 minutes in 5-0 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes (June 22)
-- Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. New York Red Bulls (June 27); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at New York City FC (June 23)
-- Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-2 draw vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (June 27); 90 minutes and a GOAL in 2-1 win vs. Real Salt Lake (June 23)
-- Matt Turner (New England Revolution; MLS) - 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at FC Dallas (June 27); 90 minutes in 3-2 win vs. New York Red Bulls (June 23)
-- Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at Sporting Kansas City (June 23)
-- Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; MLS) - 90 minutes in 3-1 loss vs. LA Galaxy (June 26); 90 minutes in 5-0 loss at Orlando City SC (June 22)
-- Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew; MLS) - 90 minutes in 0-0 draw at Austin FC (June 27); 90 minutes in 1-0 loss at Philadelphia Union (June 23)
-- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; MLS) - 13 minutes as a substitute in 1-1 draw vs. CF Montreal (June 26); Not in 18, DNP in 3-2 win vs. Toronto FC (June 23)