Toronto FC Send Striker Bright Dike On Loan To San Antonio

   

Toronto FC announced Monday afternoon the loan move of striker Bright Dike to NASL side San Antonio Scorpions. Dike will hope to put his injury problems behind him and revive his career.

torontofc.com

Toronto FC have announced the loan move of striker Bright Dike toNASL team San Antonio Scorpions. 

“With our current depth at forward it can be difficult to get match minutes for every player,” general manager Tim Bezbatchenkoexplained to the club's official website.

“This loan will give Bright an opportunity to play regularly and remain sharp in a professional environment.”

Toronto of course have no shortage of attacking fire power in their squad with the likes of Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco, Luke Moore and Robbie Findley seemingly ahead of Dike in the pecking order.

The 28-year-old Nigerian has struggled with injuries for the past couple years, most recently an Achilles tear in last year’s preseason which ultimately kept him out of the entire 2014 campaign. That was the second Achilles related injury in his career, having also sustained a torn ACL in his tenure with the Portland Timbers.

Dike was traded to Toronto in 2013, but has started just five games, scoring one goal since then.

Dempsey Goal Burns Timbers Late As Sounders FC Emerge Victorious

Seattle Sounders defeated Portland Timbers late Sunday night in Seattle, WA. Clint Dempsey scored a winner late into the back of the net off a rebound.

Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times

Seattle Sounders FC

1 0

Portland Timbers

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC: STEFAN FREI; TYRONE MEARS, BRAD EVANS - C, ZACH SCOTT, DYLAN REMICK; MARCO PAPPA (LEO GONZALEZ 86’), OSVALDO ALONSO, GONZALO PINEDA, LAMAR NEAGLE (ANDY ROSE 77’); CLINT DEMPSEY, OBAFEMI MARTINS

PORTLAND TIMBERS: ADAM KWARASEY; ALVAS POWELL, NAT BORCHERS, LIAM RIDGEWELL - C, JORGE VILLAFANA; DIEGO CHARA, DAIRON ASPRILLA (GASTON FERNANDEZ 62’), JACK JEWSBURY, ISHMAEL YARTEY, DARLINGTON NAGBE; MAXIMILIANO URRUTI (FANENDO ADI 74’)

REFEREE: POR – JORGE VILLAFANA (CAUTION) 23’ SEA – MARCO PAPPA (CAUTION) 53’ SEA – OSVALDO ALONSO (CAUTION) 54’ POR – LIAM RIDGEWELL (CAUTION) 71’

INCIDENTS: CASCADIA CUP MATCH BETWEEN SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC AND PORTLAND TIMBERS OF THE MLS. THE MATCH WAS PLAYED AT CENTURYLINK FIELD IN SEATTLE IN FRONT OF 41,451 SPECTATORS.

Clint Dempsey sent a 77' shot past keeper Adam Kwarasey to drive Seattle Sounders to victory against Portland Timbers Sunday night. The goal came off the rebound from a Kwarasey save on Andy Rose's shot right in front of the line. Dempsey just tapped the ball into the net for the eventual game-winner.

This match played out just as expected in this heated MLS rivalry between Sounders and Timbers, as the game was a scoreless defensive battle for the first 76 minutes of soccer. Seattle put up 3 shots on goal, and Portland put 2, and each goalkeeper had 2 saves; the extra shot proved to be Sounders' winner. This match was evidently even, as Seattle only controlled the possession battle by a 51-49 advantage and each team was doled out 2 yellow cards, so no lead was taken through penalty or misconduct.

Jorge Villafaña was shown the yellow in 23' for Portland. Then, a 53' yellow card was given to Marco Pappa of Sounders, followed by Osvaldo Alonso's yellow in 54' for Seattle. In 71' for Timbers, Liam Ridgewell was shown the yellow as well.

Portland had their fair share of chances in this one, as they actually struck one more shot in this game than Seattle; they won the shots category 11-10 over Sounders. Two second-half headers by Fanendo Adi just nearly missed, one sailing wide left of the net from point blank range in 75', the other hitting the crossbar in 81'. Timbers also received 2 shots from Maximiliano Urruti.

The crowd at CenturyLink Field was pumping all Sunday night, and went berzerk as Dempsey put in the late winner. 

Keeper Stefan Frei and the Seattle back line recorded another stellar shutout versus Timbers, earning their fourth clean-sheet of the young MLS season. That leaves Seattle tied atop the league in shutouts.

Sounders had their fair share of scoring chances in this match as well, striking 10 shots, and 3 on goal. Marco Pappa struck 3 shots, and Obafemi Martins and Lamar Neagle each attempted 2. Neagle had his first half stoppage time shot incredibly saved by Kwarasey, and Martins had multiple chances to score in or directly outside the box. 

In this matchup, Seattle have now won four straight matches including all competitions, and now improve to 4-2-1 in MLS play, good for 3rd in MLS's Western Conference. Sounders are 3 points behind leaders Vancouver. Portland drop to 2-3-3.