Always a man of the moment, Clint Dempsey is ready for massive match against the Portland Timbers - Seattle Sounders FC
mbers at Seattle Sounders: How to Watch, Previews, Match Chat [6:30]
Clint Dempsey played on the Seattle Sounders 2014 team that won the Supporters’ Shield and was painstakingly close to winning the Western Conference Championship. He played on the 2016 team that, despite his extended absence to heart complications, improbably ran the gauntlet to the franchise’s first MLS Cup.
But this season, Dempsey is impressed with just how strong the 2017 Sounders are from top to bottom.
“It’s the most depth we’ve had since I’ve been here, and it’s exciting,” Dempsey said Friday ahead of the team’s huge clash with the Portland Timbers on Sunday night at CenturyLink Field (6:30 p.m. PT; FS1, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360AM). “We have a lot of competition for spots, which is pushing the quality and making sure the quality stays high on the team. It’s starting to become more difficult for the manager to make decisions because of the quality that is here.”
Dempsey has stepped up in big moments for club and country throughout his career and has left indelible marks on the most massive of stages. It’s no wonder why nine of his 45 career MLS regular-season goals have come against Seattle’s rival to the south, the most recent a 94th-minute dagger on June 25 that broke Providence Park hearts and helped 10-man Seattle escape with a crucial road point.
Dempsey’s clutch header at the death in Portland has galvanized the Sounders and has been the catalyst of the team’s record 10-match unbeaten streak.
“You get in a rhythm, get confidence,” Dempsey said of the club’s recent performances. “There’s communication there, good chemistry. [We’re] just moving the ball well and feel like we’re in a good place.”
The Sounders are unbeaten against the Timbers this season, including a 1-0 home win on May 27, but Sunday’s match will be the biggest of the three this year, as Seattle and Portland enter first and second in the Western Conference table, respectively. Three points would go a long way with single-digit games remaining in the regular season and could ultimately set the course for the final playoff standings.
“It’s always exciting to play against them,” Dempsey said of the Timbers. “It’s a rivalry game, so it’s huge for the city. There will be a great atmosphere. It’s a game that means a lot because of where we sit in the table, so we have to make sure we get the right result and stay ahead of them
It’s a Cascadia match day. And the Thorns won at the Reign yesterday 2-1. Can the Timbers follow suit and get their first ever regular season win at CenturyLink?
Both teams are riding momentum. Seattle is unbeaten in 10 matches, putting them in 1st place in the west. Portland have 2 consecutive wins and 3 wins in their last 4, getting them up to 2nd in the west. So not only is it a Cascadia Cup match, but it sees the rivals both topping the west and looking to keep their respective streaks going.
Seattle have no suspensions or significant injuries. Joevin Jones went AWOL to his national team without permission so he is the only significant absence from their ideal starting XI. In addition to that, Seattle has 7 wins and 2 draws in all regular season matches against Portland at CenturyLink since both sides have been in MLS. So advantage is with the home side on this one.
Continuing that advantage, Portland still have significant injuries and a suspension. Fanendo Adi, Jake Gleeson, Liam Ridgewell, and Marco Farfan all continue to miss games due to injury. To add insult to those injuries, midfielder David Guzman got his 8th yellow card in the Colorado match and must sit this game out due to accumulation. But don’t lose hope.
If there was ever a time for narrative to come around and help give the Timbers their first regular season win, this would be it. The Timbers have won at CenturyLink when it counted (2013 playoffs). And it needs to count today. If the Timbers can win, they can secure the Cascadia Cup nice and early this season. And a win will see the two sides swap positions in the standings. Seattle still hold a game in hand so to earn 3 points in this third and final regular season match will be huge for Portland if they can manage to break tradition.
Clint Dempsey played on the Seattle Sounders 2014 team that won the Supporters’ Shield and was painstakingly close to winning the Western Conference Championship. He played on the 2016 team that, despite his extended absence to heart complications, improbably ran the gauntlet to the franchise’s first MLS Cup.
But this season, Dempsey is impressed with just how strong the 2017 Sounders are from top to bottom.
“It’s the most depth we’ve had since I’ve been here, and it’s exciting,” Dempsey said Friday ahead of the team’s huge clash with the Portland Timbers on Sunday night at CenturyLink Field (6:30 p.m. PT; FS1, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360AM). “We have a lot of competition for spots, which is pushing the quality and making sure the quality stays high on the team. It’s starting to become more difficult for the manager to make decisions because of the quality that is here.”
Dempsey has stepped up in big moments for club and country throughout his career and has left indelible marks on the most massive of stages. It’s no wonder why nine of his 45 career MLS regular-season goals have come against Seattle’s rival to the south, the most recent a 94th-minute dagger on June 25 that broke Providence Park hearts and helped 10-man Seattle escape with a crucial road point.
Dempsey’s clutch header at the death in Portland has galvanized the Sounders and has been the catalyst of the team’s record 10-match unbeaten streak.
“You get in a rhythm, get confidence,” Dempsey said of the club’s recent performances. “There’s communication there, good chemistry. [We’re] just moving the ball well and feel like we’re in a good place.”
The Sounders are unbeaten against the Timbers this season, including a 1-0 home win on May 27, but Sunday’s match will be the biggest of the three this year, as Seattle and Portland enter first and second in the Western Conference table, respectively. Three points would go a long way with single-digit games remaining in the regular season and could ultimately set the course for the final playoff standings.
“It’s always exciting to play against them,” Dempsey said of the Timbers. “It’s a rivalry game, so it’s huge for the city. There will be a great atmosphere. It’s a game that means a lot because of where we sit in the table, so we have to make sure we get the right result and stay ahead of them
It’s a Cascadia match day. And the Thorns won at the Reign yesterday 2-1. Can the Timbers follow suit and get their first ever regular season win at CenturyLink?
Both teams are riding momentum. Seattle is unbeaten in 10 matches, putting them in 1st place in the west. Portland have 2 consecutive wins and 3 wins in their last 4, getting them up to 2nd in the west. So not only is it a Cascadia Cup match, but it sees the rivals both topping the west and looking to keep their respective streaks going.
Seattle have no suspensions or significant injuries. Joevin Jones went AWOL to his national team without permission so he is the only significant absence from their ideal starting XI. In addition to that, Seattle has 7 wins and 2 draws in all regular season matches against Portland at CenturyLink since both sides have been in MLS. So advantage is with the home side on this one.
Continuing that advantage, Portland still have significant injuries and a suspension. Fanendo Adi, Jake Gleeson, Liam Ridgewell, and Marco Farfan all continue to miss games due to injury. To add insult to those injuries, midfielder David Guzman got his 8th yellow card in the Colorado match and must sit this game out due to accumulation. But don’t lose hope.
If there was ever a time for narrative to come around and help give the Timbers their first regular season win, this would be it. The Timbers have won at CenturyLink when it counted (2013 playoffs). And it needs to count today. If the Timbers can win, they can secure the Cascadia Cup nice and early this season. And a win will see the two sides swap positions in the standings. Seattle still hold a game in hand so to earn 3 points in this third and final regular season match will be huge for Portland if they can manage to break tradition.
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