The Seattle Sounders came out on top in resounding fashion in their first-ever meeting with Minnesota United on Saturday, riding a brace from Clint Dempsey and goals from Will Bruin and Jordan Morris to a 4-0 blowout of the Loons at TCF Bank Stadium.
Dempsey and Bruin would combine for the opening goal on a 10th minute counter attack that ended with Bruin cashing home a finish past Minnesota goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth. Dempsey would then double that just eight minutes later off a perfectly executed set piece that was set up by midfielder Gustav Svensson and defender Chad Marshall. Morris added insurance in the 71st and Dempsey bagged his second of the day just two minutes later to finish off the dominant showing.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Attack Explodes
The Sounders finally had a first-choice attack at their disposal on Saturday with Morris slotting back into the XI after coming off the bench last week against the LA Galaxy. That would pay immediate dividends as Seattle’s front four of Bruin, Dempsey, Morris and Nicolas Lodeiro gave the Loons backline fits all night and generally looked as fluid and cohesive as they have all season. With the two goals, Dempsey took sole possession of the team lead for the season from Bruin with nine.
JMo finds the scoresheet
Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said that Morris “walking on air” following his recent game-winning goal for the US national team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. From the looks of it, the 22-year-old Stanford product might be channeling that success with his country back to the club level. Morris bagged his third goal of the year with a breakaway finish through Shuttleworth’s legs in the 71st minute, a welcome sign for Seattle as they look to get the young attacker on track for the season’s stretch run.
One (minor) caveat
Saturday’s result was an impressive one to be sure – no one will ever question a four-goal in-conference blowout on the road in MLS. But it should be noted that it did take place against the league’s leakiest back line. With the four goals on Saturday, Minnesota has now conceded 49 on the season, the most in MLS. Make no mistake: The Sounders did exactly what they were supposed to do, but they can almost certainly expect tougher sledding in next Saturday’s home matchup against Sporting Kansas City -- which boasts the league’s stingiest defense.
