SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey has been voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 24th week of the 2016 MLS season, following his two-goal performance against Portland on Sunday, August 21.
Dempsey’s two goals led Seattle to its third-consecutive win Sunday evening with a 3-1 result over archrival Portland in front of 53,302 fans on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. After a scoreless first half, Dempsey gave the home side a 1-0 advantage with a penalty-kick in the 61st minute, burying his attempt past Timbers keeper Jack Gleeson after Cristian Roldan was fouled making a run inside the area.
Dempsey netted his second goal of the night for Seattle in the 80th minute, receiving a pass from Roldan before comfortably slotting a smooth shot past Gleeson at the Portland netminder's far post. With his eighth goal of the season, Dempsey is now tied with Jordan Morris for the team lead in scoring. Dempsey also has eight goals against the Timbers in seven matches, the most scored by a Sounders FC player versus any single MLS opponent.
Unbeaten in four matches under Interim Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, the Rave Green now prepare for two road matches inside of a week, first traveling to face the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium on Wednesday, August 24 (6:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, ROOT SPORTS, 770 KTTH, El Rey 1360 AM). Seattle then prepares for its last regular season matchup against the Timbers on Sunday, August 28 at Providence Park. Kickoff for that contest is slated for 2:00 p.m. PT, with ESPN televising the match nationally, and KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM providing regional radio coverage.
