Daryl Dike Scores First USMNT Goal in 4-0 Win Over Costa Rica

Daryl Dike made the most of his one opportunity in this international break with the United States Men’s National Team. The big man scored his first goal with the USMNT in a 4-0 win over Costa Rica at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT, and was active and dangerous throughout his time on the pitch.

Dike played 74 minutes in the victory and left his mark on the match before exiting in the second half for Jordan Siebatcheu.

It didn’t take long for Dike to become a factor in the match. A well-worked ball up the left was sent into the middle by Antonee Robinson and Dike muscled off his defender but his shot was blocked. Just before he could recover for a second shot, Brenden Aaronson swept in from behind at the last second and fired home to make it 1-0 in the eighth minute. It may not have been Daryl’s goal but he was a big part of making it happen.

In the 14th minute Dike should have gotten an assist. He found Tim Weah to his left near the top of the area all alone. The shot was good but the save was even better as Costa Rica goalkeeper Leonel Moreira made a good save on the upper corner ball to keep it 1-0 and deny Weah a goal and Dike an assist.

Dike finally got his first goal in the 42nd minute. Making a well-timed run, Dike took a great through ball from Mark McKenzie, picked out his spot and showed composure with a cool finish to make it 2-0.

Orlando’s star striker (for now) should have had an assist in first-half stoppage time when Aaronson danced through the Costa Rican defense and threaded a ball into the middle. Dike got a touch on it to send it out to the left and Musah just had to finish but he sent his shot wide of goal.

That was it for the first half and the USMNT took a 2-0 lead into the break.

Daryl wasn’t quite as involved in the second half but continued working hard. He was part of an attack that Costa Rica was trying to deal with and break out of when the U.S. scored its third goal. While trying to play out of the back from the U.S. buildup, Reggie Cannon stepped in front of a soft pass and stole it, broke in on goal, made a move on a defender and slotted home with his left foot. Cannon’s first USMNT goal pushed the lead to 3-0 in the 52nd minute.

Dike checked out in the 74th minute for Siebatchu, having put in a good shift — and one that will leave no question that he should continue to be part of the USMNT setup moving forward.

Without Dike, the United States still wasn’t finished scoring. Gio Reyna was fouled in the penalty area moments after coming on. Reyna took the penalty himself, sent Moreira the wrong way, and calmly slotted a gentle ball home in the 77th minute to make it 4-0. With the goal, Reyna became the youngest USMNT player to ever score on a penalty kick at 18 years, 208 days of age.

From there it was just a matter of keeping the clean sheet and the U.S. did that. It was just a friendly, but no doubt Orlando City’s star man Dike will never forget it.