PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Timbers forward Bright Dike will miss a significant part of the Major League Soccer season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
The 26-year-old was injured in Tuesday's preseason match against Seattle. The Timbers said Friday that he will have surgery Monday.
Dike, who made his debut for Nigeria in a November exhibition against Venezuela, scored five goals in 12 MLS games last season. He missed much of the 2011 season after rupturing his right Achilles' tendon that February during a preseason game against the Ventura County Fusion.
Timbers forward Brent Richards had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Feb. 5 to repair a torn ACL and lateral meniscus tear and is expected to be sidelined for six months. He was hurt during training Jan. 26 in Portland.
