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Orlando City dominates San Jose 5-0 on Dike’s first 2021 start.

Orlando, Florida, USA, June 22, 2021, Orlando City SC Captain Luis Nani #17 attempt to score during the first half of the match at Exploria Stadium. (Photo Credit: Marty Jean-Louis)

Orlando – The Orlando City Soccer Club dominated the San Jose Earthquakes by a score of 5-0. Daryl Dike, the player of the game, scored twice and dominated along side the Lions as the quakes were no match for their firepower.

Orlando dominated with a front line of Nani, Benji Michel, Chris Mueller, and Daryl Dike. Dike, in his first start for Orlando this year, proved to be a solid striker that the Quakes had a hard time stopping.

Michel also dominated on the the field with a brace, followed by Nani who scored on a penalty kick and provided two assists.

Orlando, Florida, USA, June 22, 2021, Orlando City SC forward Benji Michel #19 makes a header during the match at Exploria Stadium. (Photo Credit: Marty Jean-Louis)

Head Coach Oscar Pareja was pleased with what he saw on the field.

“We’re feeling very proud of many things that we saw tonight.”Said Pareja. “To see the players putting together that effort and fighting all the way against a rival that, despite the result, has very good players and a great coach and it was for moments difficult to play against. We were very sharp in the back today, having that efficiency in our forwards just makes us feel very optimistic, so it was a very good night. We have to keep going but we’re very proud of all those things.”

Michel, Mueller, and Dike started the game, giving, Tesho Akindele, Mauricio Perayra, and and Van der Water, who started Saturday’s match against Toronto.

Orlando, Florida, USA, June 22, 2021, Orlando City SC Forward Daryl Dike #18 scores during the first half against San Jose at Exploria Stadium. (Photo Credit: Marty Jean-Louis)

Orlando had little trouble with San Jose. The battle tonight was against the weather. With the match starting 30 minute late due to a weather delay, and then being stopped with a little over 5 minutes left before the half, there was left of waiting about an hour while listening to fans sing “Purple Rain” and Sweet Caroline” as they awaited the all clear to return to site stands.

Another ironic fact was that this was the first full capacity crowd for Orlando City, and this proved to be a big source of inspiration for the Lions.

“Those fans mean a lot and they were incredible tonight,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said. “It was tremendous to see how they sustained the energy and stayed engaged throughout the rainstorm (and delays). These fans deserved this effort and hopefully we will give them more joy. We’re very grateful for them.”

Orlando, Florida, USA, June 22, 2021, Orlando City SC Captain Luis Nani #17 shoots a penalty and scores against San Jose at Exploria Stadium. (Photo Credit: Marty Jean-Louis)

The scoring started fairly quickly, as did their last game, where they scored within 1 minute. Benji Michel drew a penalty after being stripped and diving in the box. City captain Nani then stepped up to the spot, putting his strike away into the bottom left corner for his fifth goal of the year.

Benji Michel, who constantly had the Quakes on their heels, charged the middle and caught up with a Chris Mueller slot pass and put the ball in beating James Marcinkowski and putting it in.

Orlando, Florida, USA, June 22, 2021, Orlando City’s Benji Michel #19 scores in the first half of the match against San Jose at Exploria Stadium. (Photo Credit: Marty Jean-Louis)

In the 31st minute, Nani found Daryl Dike running through a trio of Earthquakes’ defenders, who then played it around Marcinkowski before playing the ball into the back of the net at a tight angle.  

City continued its first-half form in the 49th minute, with Nani whipping in a free kick from the right edge of the area that found the head of Daryl Dike in the box to secure the brace on the night for the Lions’ frontman.

The Lions’ Homegrown secured a brace of his own at the death, with Mauricio Pereyra finding Tesho Akindele in the box, who threaded a pass for Benji Michel on the right edge of the area to fire into the back of the net.

The Lions face yet another quick turnaround, closing out a stretch of three games in seven-days at Inter Miami CF on Friday, June 25 at DRV PNK Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. ET

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