MLS Regular Season
Score: Sounders FC 3 vs. New England Revolution 0
Goal-scorers: Clint Dempsey (25’, 67’), Obafemi Martins (41’)
Site: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA.
Man of the Match: Playing against his former team, Clint Dempsey was an integral part of all three Sounders FC goals Sunday night, starting the year with two goals and an assist. Dempsey got Seattle on the board in the 25th minute with a penalty kick after being taken down inside the box, and then the veteran forward set up Obafemi Martins’ goal four minutes before halftime. For the team’s third goal, Martins found Dempsey for an easy finish into an open net in the 67th minute.
Telling Stat: 14. That was the number of goals produced by a combination play between Martins and Dempsey in 2014. Judging by their performance on Sunday, the two forwards could be poised to surpass that number this season.
What You Missed: Tyrone Mears made his Sounders FC debut Sunday night, playing all 90 minutes at right back and showing just why the club signed him. Along with helping his new team keep a clean sheet, Mears was heavily involved in the attack, playing in crosses from the right wing and earning corner kicks for Seattle. The Englishman assisted on Martins’ goal by playing in a perfect cross from the right flank.
Sounders captain Brad Evans also made his full debut at centerback, helping earn the clean sheet for Seattle with some key tackles along the way.
So What: The Rave Green continued their dominance in season openers, improving to 5-2 with all seven of those matches played at CenturyLink Field. Sounders FC also improved to 20-0-0 when Martins finds the back of the net, dating back to April of 2013. Seattle is tied with the LA Galaxy, Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas atop the Western Conference standings after week one. The club’s next match is at home this Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes.
