For Seattle Sounders interim head coach Brian Schmetzer, Clint Dempsey’s hat trick in the team’s 3-1 victory over Orlando City FC at Camping World Stadium on Sunday was just part of the story.
Yes, Schmetzer did take a degree of satisfaction in watching the three-goal eruption from his star forward, who brought his MLS total up to six on the season with the performance.
“I’m happy that Clint is maybe going to silence some of his critics,” Schmetzer said afterwards.
But the most encouraging aspect may have been the manner in which they were scored.
Seattle’s attack in the team’s new 4-2-3-1 formation was humming throughout Sunday’s contest, with rookie forward Jordan Morris playing the role of facilitator in setting up Dempsey with easy finishes on two of his three goals.
“That’s exactly what we needed,” Morris said. “To come here, get a win on the road and kind of turn the season around a little bit. From the front to the back everyone had a great game.”
Playing in his second game with the club after making his team debut in Seattle’s 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy last weekend, Nicolas Lodeiro followed up with another strong outing on Sunday. The Uruguyan midfielder once again made his presence felt throughout the contest and was credited with secondary assists on two of Dempsey’s goals.
“[Lodeiro’s] movement coupled with his passing is huge for us,” Sounders captain Brad Evans said. “The way we want to play right now, he is that missing piece right now to move us forward. He sees things that not a lot of players see.
“He also takes defenders away from Clint. In games before, you’d just see three guys sitting on Clint and bottling him up. If you do that now and Nico finds enough. space and he’s one-on-one, then he’s going to release Jordan. It’s more than just his ability on the ball, it’s what he does off the ball as well.”
Sunday’s victory also gave the Sounders just their second road victory of the season and the first home defeat for Orlando City in over a year at Camping World Stadium.
“Over the years, we’ve been a good road team,” Schmetzer said. “I’ve wanted to instill that confidence back in that group. We can be a good road team. We will be a road team. And we’re going to need to be a good road team if we’re going to have a chance at making the playoffs.”
Evans cautioned that the Sounders still have plenty of work to do before they can start talking about their ultimate goal of working their way back into the Western Conference playoff race. But as Seattle head home for next weekend’s matchup Real Salt Lake at CenturyLink Field, the taste of a road victory certainly won’t hurt the cause.
“Nobody’s cheering, the ship hasn’t been righted just yet,” Evans said. “We’ve got to keep climbing, we’ve got to keep working. But if we can [string together results], we can start climbing the ladder hopefully. But it all starts on Sunday at home.”
