COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Clint Dempsey scored twice including a highlight-reel golazo in the 85th minute, pacing the Seattle Sounders to a 3-1 road victory over the Colorado Rapids on Tuesday’s Independence Day matchup at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Will Bruin scored Seattle’s other goal in the 30th minute for the Sounders, while Rapids forward Dominic Badji got the lone tally for the hosts in the 78th. The goals for Dempsey brought his season total to seven, breaking a tie with Bruin for the team lead.
The longtime U.S. national team veteran kicked off the scoring in the sixth minute after he collected a feed from Joevin Jones inside the Colorado penalty box and slotted home the finish past Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Bruin doubled the advantage in the 30th after Dempsey flicked a long ball from midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro directly into the path of the hulking forward, who cashed home his own finish past Howard.
Seattle’s jubilation would be somewhat tempered, though, as the Rave Green lost two key contributors in the first half. Captain Osvaldo Alonso exited with an apparent knee injury in the 17th minute and was replaced by Homegrown product Aaron Kovar. Center back Chad Marshall also had to leave in the 22nd minute and was replaced by Tony Alfaro.
The Rapids pulled one back late, however, after Badji tapped home a point-blank finish off a cross from Marlon Hairston.
Dempsey provided one of the highlights of the Sounders’ MLS season thus far in the 85th after he collected an over-the-top-ball and lofted a perfectly weighted finish over a diving Howard, giving the Sounders the final 3-1 advantage.
Seattle will return to action in an international friendly against German club Eintracht Frankfurt, before returning to MLS action on July 19 with a home matchup against Eastern Conference foe D.C. United.
