Major League Soccer has nominated Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey for 2017 MLS Comeback Player of the Year. An irregular heartbeat kept Dempsey out of the final third of the 2016 regular season and the entire run through the MLS Cup Playoffs, but he returned mightily this year with a team-high 12 goals, the second-highest goal production in his eight MLS seasons.
Ahead of the Comeback Player of the Year announcement on Nov. 15, SoundersFC.com counts down Dempsey’s top five goals of the year to date.
No. 5: At Minnesota United (8/5)
No. 3: November 10
No. 2: November 13
No. 1: November 14
No. 4
With the Sounders down 1-0 to the Chicago Fire in the 28th minute at Toyota Park on May 13, Dempsey received the ball 30 yards from net, took one touch and fired a left-footed strike to the far post to equalize. Although Seattle would lose, Dempsey’s fourth goal of the year showcased a bit of individual brilliance.