Seattle is known for its rock bands (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Sound Garden) and its rainy, overcast weather.
However, over the last five years the Emerald City has seemed a bit sunnier and is now also recognized for its soccer team. The Seattle Sounders are led by the winningest head coach in MLS history, Sigi Schmid… and all they do is win!
The Sounders are named after the Puget Sound, a large complex estuarine system of waterways and basins that connects much of Washington State and its major cities to the Pacific Ocean.
After entering the MLS in 2008, the Sounders have held the average attendance record and made the play-offs each of their first five years in the league, ultimately winning four U.S. Open Cups, which is the longest running club tournament in North America
And what do you know….the Sounders are at it again this year! The team currently sits top of the Western Conference and holds the best record in the MLS.
Seattle is home to the MLS’s most prolific scoring duo, the Sounders and USA international team captain Clint Dempsey and the quick footed Nigerian international, Obafemi Martins.
Dempsey and Martins are both in the top four in the league in scoring with seven and six goals respectively. Clint is also tied for third in the league for assists with five (teammate Marco Pappa is fifth with four).
Clint Dempsey came from humble beginnings. He and his siblings were raised in a mobile home in Nacogdoches, Texas.
On Sunday, in front of a packed CenturyLink Field, the Sounders found themselves a goal down in the first half to a resilient New York Red Bulls team.
The goal came from the head of Bulls winger Lloyd Sam in the 36th minute. The header came off the awarded set-piece after a suspect phantom hand-ball call.
The free-kick pinballed round the penalty box before Sam put a head on it. The goal gave the Red Bulls a 0-1 lead at the half and the Englishman his fourth goal of the season.
In the second half the gloomy skies once again cleared for Sigi’s Sounders. Guatemalan star Marco Papa tied the score in the 69th minute with a left footed shot and assist from Obafemi Martins.
Right full-back Tyrone Mears set up the winning goal in extra time with a phenomenal ball that carried across the penalty area to the far post, before the left foot of Clint Dempsey sent it back across the goal to an unmarked Barrett who helped guide it to the back of the net.
Dempsey’s touch would have been enough to guide it into the net, but because Barrett got a toe on it and he was awarded the goal. It was his third of the season.
Dempsey actually thought it was his goal until an interviewer broke the news to him after the game.
He shrugged it off, “Winning is all that really matters.” The Sounders captain also acknowledged his team’s resilience by saying “We fight to the end.”
Dempsey was the first American to score a hat-trick in the English Premier League for Fulham in a 5-2 victory over Newcastle.
The win put the Seattle Sounders on three points and meant they have taken seven out of nine available points over their last three games.
U.S Team
USA captain Clint Dempsey has been left out of the USA’s upcoming fixtures, because he is expecting his fourth child.
The team will also be without forward Jozy Altidore (hamstring) and midfielder Alejandro Bedoya (knee) for their upcoming friendly games against World Cup champions Germany, and the Netherlands who are currently ranked fifth in the world. … OH BOY!
Will the Sounders finally breakthrough and win the MLS title in 2015?
