Ian Joy: Bright Dike had a very impressive performance. Not the last time we see him in a Nigeria shirt.

Portland striker Bright Dike capped a memorable comeback season by playing all 90 minutes for Nigeria in a 3-1 win for the Super Eagles over Venezuela in Miami.

Goals from Brown Ideye, Emmanuel Igiebor and a late third from Ogenyi Onazi negated a 70th minute strike from the Swiss born Venezuelan Frank Feltscher of Grasshoopers Zurich.

Dike started up front alongside Dinamo Kiev’s Ideye and Igiebor who plays his domestic football in Spain’s La Liga with Real Betis.

Like both his forward colleagues, coach Stephen Keshi allowed Dike to play for 90 minutes. Also in the Nigerian line up was former Inter Milan and Newcastle star Obafemi Martins, now with Levante in Spain. Martins was replaced by another adopted Geordie Shola Ameobi.

Dike’s former Portland Timbers colleague and Prost Amerika columnist Ian Joy now lives in Miami where he works for beIN Sports. He attended the match and said of Dike’s performance:

“He started and played very well for 65 minutes. I would say for sure it was a very impressive performance. He had a couple of good attempts on goal but the way he linked up with his teammates was excellent. Definitely not the last time we see him in a Nigeria shirt.”

DC United’s Andy Najar warmed up for the capital club’s second leg with Houston Dynamo by playing in Honduras 0-0 draw with Peru, ironically in the Houston Stadium where he was forbidden to star in the away leg through suspension.

He played 74 minutes before being replaced by Óscar Boniek who plays for .. Houston Dynamo. Both will now head to Washington DC for the second leg.

Dike Selected for Nigeria