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Dempsey hat-trick paces Sounders against Orlando City

Photo by Kim Klement/USA Today Sports
Photo by Kim Klement/USA Today Sports

Even though it was the home side that got out to the faster start on Sunday night, the Seattle Sounders found their second away win of the season at Camping World Stadium.

The Sounders picked up their first victory since head coach Sigi Schmid’s exit, defeating Orlando City SC, 3-1, behind a Clint Dempsey hat-trick. The loss for Orlando City snaps the team’s 17-match unbeaten streak at home.

Despite their offensive woes over the first half of 2016, the Sounders looked lively throughout the match in the attacking third, particularly sequences run through new Designated Player signing Nicolas Lodeiro.

The U.S. Men’s National Team attacker netted two tap-in scores from close range in the 14th and 37th minutes, giving the Sounders a lead prior to halftime. Tyrone Mears played provider for the away side’s equalizer just before the quarter hour mark, while an unselfish play by Jordan Morris set up Dempsey’s second prior to halftime.

Dempsey completed his hat trick just three minutes into the second half when Morris found his fellow American for the second time on the night.

The Lions held an early advantage after just seven minutes when defender Seb Hines knocked home his third finish of the season. Following a Kaka corner kick, the 28-year-old Englishman timed his run to perfection before heading home the in-swinging cross.

The two sides will return to action next Sunday, as Orlando City travels to Toyota Park to face the Chicago Fire, while the Sounders host Real Salt Lake in a critical Western Conference showdown.

MAN OF THE MATCH

While the distribution into Clint Dempsey was great all night, the U.S. forward still needed to be in the right positions to finish his chances. With the hat-trick, Dempsey is up to six goals on the season, one behind Jordan Morris for the team lead.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Coming into the match, Jordan Morris was one of the few bright spots in the Sounders attack this season, but instead of needing his scoring on Sunday the young American forward played provider on the team’s second goal. Instead of shooting in a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Joe Bendik, Morris chose to lay the ball off to Dempsey in front of a wide open net.

MATCH TO FORGET

Orlando City’s backline was too porous on the night when it came to defending crosses. All three of Dempsey’s finishes were far too easy, and the Lions will have to improve in that area moving forward.

Comments

  1. I wonder if Sigi was against bringing Lodeiro in. It definitely sounds like a butting of heads between Lagerway and Sigi that lead to the split up. It looks like Sounders finally found their missing piece in Lodeiro, just a shame that it happened a week too late for Schmidt.

    Reply
    • I would love to think that Sigi wanted to bring Evans back to mid over Lodeiro, it would answer a lot of questions, but there is no way that he didn’t want Lodeiro.

      He was a good coach. Schmetzer probably just a little bit better and now, as you say, they have the missing piece….which was a heck of a big piece.

      Reply
    • Lodeiro just finished the Copa America and then Copa Libertadores with Boca Juniors. In effect his season ended in late July, I don’t think he was available until now.

      Reply
  2. At least Orlando will play on real grass come next season…what about Seattle? They continue to play on that fake turf abomination…Always second fiddle to that other franchise in town…

    Reply
    • I’m not sure sharing real grass with the Seahawks from August thru October would really be much better. With weather conditions what they are in Seattle football would tear up a grass field pretty quickly. The other option would be a soccer specific stadium that could seat 45-50,000 which seems like it would be pretty expensive for Seattle to have 2 large outdoor stadiums 3 if you count UW. Trying to keep grass growing on top of the field turf for the whole Summer also seems doubtful.

      Reply

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