COMMERCE CITY, COLO. - Clint Dempsey scored two goals and recorded one assist as Seattle Sounders FC (6-7-6, 24 points) earned a 3-1 road win over the Colorado Rapids (6-11-1, 16 points) Tuesday evening at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Despite being forced to make a pair of early injury substitutions, Brian Schmetzer's club prevailed in the Independence Day matchup to extend its three-match unbeaten streak in league play. Next up, Sounders FC takes part in an international friendly this Saturday, July 8 against German side Eintracht Frankfurt on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field (12:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, ROOT SPORTS, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
Dempsey put Seattle on the board early with a sixth-minute strike. After Nicolás Lodeiro sprung Joevin Jones down the left side into space, the Trinidad & Tobago international picked out an open Dempsey making a dangerous run inside the area. The Texan then cleanly converted a left-footed shot past Rapids goalkeeper and longtime USMNT teammate Tim Howard for his sixth goal of the campaign.
Bruin made it 2-0 in the 30th minute on assists from Dempsey and Lodeiro. After Lodeiro played an over-the-top ball into the 18-yard-box, Dempsey took a deft touch to settle the ball down to Bruin's feet for a strong finish past Howard. The goal brought Bruin up to six tallies on the season, as well.
Sounders FC was forced to use two first-half substitutions after injuries to midfielder Osvaldo Alonso and defender Chad Marshall. Aaron Kovar came into the contest during the 17th minute after Alonso suffered a knee sprain, then Tony Alfaro replaced Marshall in the 22nd minute after the centerback picked-up a foot injury.
The Rapids pulled one back in the 78th minute when Dominique Badji got on the end of a Marlon Hairston cross, putting a shot past Stefan Frei to make it 2-1. The goal was the culmination of a barrage of attempts by Colorado, including a sequence in the 78th minute that consisted of a shot that hit the crossbar followed by a point-blank save by Frei.
Dempsey sealed the match in the 85th minute with a world-class shot from distance to make it 3-1. Frei sent a goal-kick that found Bruin for a lofting flick-on header that led Dempsey toward goal. Bruin's ball took one bounce before Dempsey delivered a left-footed half-volley from 20 yards out that sailed over Howard and into the back of the net. The goal gives Dempsey his team-leading seventh of the season and 41st strike for Sounders FC, passing Obafemi Martins for second on the club's all-time scoring list, six tallies behind Fredy Montero's 47.
Sounders FC returns to action this Saturday, July 8 with an international friendly against German side Eintracht Frankfurt (12:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, ROOT SPORTS, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). Brian Schmetzer's side returns to MLS play on Wednesday, July 19 with the club's lone matchup of the year against D.C. United (7:30 p.m. PT / Q13 FOX, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 3 - Colorado Rapids 1
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Venue:
Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Referee:
Hilario Greajea
Assistants:
Corey Parker, Brian Poeschel
Fourth Official:
Fotis Bazakos
Attendance:
17,432
Weather:
Partly cloudy and 85 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA - Clint Dempsey (Joevin Jones) 6'
SEA - Will Bruin (Clint Dempsey, Nicolás Lodeiro) 30'
COL - Dominique Badji (Marlon Hairston, Micheal Azira) 78'
SEA - Clint Dempsey (Will Bruin, Stefan Frei) 85'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
COL - Mekeil Williams (caution) 23'
COL - Bismark Boateng (caution) 45'+2'
COL - Dominque Badji (caution) 48'
COL - Mike da Fonte (caution) 54'
COL - Alan Gordon (caution) 66'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Jordy Delem, Román Torres, Chad Marshall (Tony Alfaro 22'), Nouhou; Osvaldo Alonso - captain (Aaron Kovar 17') (Harry Shipp 84'), Gustav Svensson, Nicolás Lodeiro, Clint Dempsey, Joevin Jones; Will Bruin
Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Zach Mathers
Total shots:
11 (Dempsey, 4)
Shots on goal:
4 (Dempsey, 3)
Fouls:
10 (Lodeiro, 2)
Offside:
0
Corner-kicks:
2 (Lodeiro/Kovar, 1)
Saves:
2 (Frei, 2)
Colorado Rapids - Tim Howard; Dennis Castillo (Alan Gordon 64'), Mike Da Fonte, Eric Miller, Mekeil Williams (Caleb Calvert HT); Nana Boateng (Micheal Azira 59'), Mohammed Saeid, Marlon Hairston, Dillon Serna; Dominque Badji, Kevin Doyle
Substitutes not used: Zac MacMath, Dillon Powers, Shkelzen Gashi, Kortne Ford
Total shots:
14 (Serna/Gordon, 3)
Shots on goal:
5 (Badji, 2)
Fouls:
18 (Badji/da Fonte, 3)
Offside:
0
Corner-kicks:
3 (Saeid, 5)
Saves:
5 (Howard, 1)
MATCH NOTES
- Sounders FC is now 6-7-6 this season and sits in sixth place in the Western Conference. The victory moves Seattle to three consecutive matches with a result in league play following draws with Portland on June 25 and Orlando on June 21.
- Sounders FC improves to 14-5-2 against the Colorado Rapids in league play. The Rave Green's 14 wins against Colorado are the most of any opponent in MLS.
- Forward Clint Dempsey scored his sixth goal of the season in the first half, then added his seventh tally in the 85th minute. His 41 goals in league play with Sounders FC pass Obafemi Martins' 40 goals for the second most in club history. Dempsey now just trails Fredy Montero's record of 47 goals.
- Forward Will Bruin also recorded his sixth goal of the 2017 campaign in the first half. Midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro provided his team-leading sixth assist of the season on the goal.
- With the 3-1 result, Seattle registered its first multi-goal win since April 23 (3-0 at LA Galaxy) and the third of the season.
- Midfielder Ozzie Alonso (knee) and defender Chad Marshall (foot) each left the match in the first half due to injury.
