Dempsey Hat Trick Headlines Big USMNT Day in MLS

by Roderick MacNeil

Clint Dempsey says hello to the fans at Providence Park (mikerussellfoto.com)

In the blink of an eye, Clint Dempsey is now the leading goalscorer in Major League Soccer.

And he wasn’t the only USMNT player with a big day on Saturday, as Michael Bradley and Maurice Edu both got in on the scoring action as well.

Dempsey scored three times and earned Man of the Match honors as he led the Seattle Sounders’ stunning comeback to earn a 4:4 away draw against the Portland Timbers.

The first goal developed quickly off a Portland turnover in its own end. Kenny Cooper intercepted a pass with a volley straight to Osvaldo Alonso’s head, who directed the ball to the feet of Obafemi Martins. With one touch to control and a quick turn, Martins found an open Dempsey at the top of the box. Dempsey slotted it home with a simple touch inside the post to tie the game at 2:2.

The Sounders found themselves down 4:2 late in the second half when substitute Lamar Neagle chipped a cross into the box. Martins got a kung-fu flick-on the ball that Dempsey corralled with his chest and poked home to draw Seattle within 4:3 in the 85th minutes.

Less than a minute later, USMNT teammate DeAndre Yedlin was taken down in the box and awarded a penalty. Dempsey smooth-talked teammate Gonzalo Pineda (Seattle’s designated PK-taker for the day) into letting him attempt to complete the hat trick. Dempsey struck it cleanly and tied the game in the 87th minute.

There’s been much consternation in recent months surrounding the alleged “poor form” of the USMNT captain. With yesterday’s performance, Dempsey will hope to quiet much of that discussion. As he continues to develop a successful strike partnership with Martins in Seattle, the goals just may start to come in bunches.

With the draw, Seattle holds steady at 5th place in the Western Conference with 7 points through 5 matches (2-2-1). Seattle next plays on Saturday, April 12 at league-leading FC Dallas.

Dempsey’s three goals can be seen at 3:22, 7:26 and 8:19 of the following video highlights clip:

USMNT Captain Michael Bradley got into the act as well with Toronto FC. Following up his dominant performance on Wednesday night vs. Mexico, Bradley scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal for TFC in a 2:0 win at Columbus.

Bradley was on the receiving end of a perfectly weighted through-ball from Mark Bloom. He one-timed a low blast from an extremely narrow angle just outside the six-yard box, somehow finding a lane across goal to sneak it inside the far post. Replays showed that the Columbus keeper had the angle covered, but got beaten through the wickets on an attemped kick save.

The win propelled Toronto FC into second place in the Eastern Conference. Both Columbus and Toronto are at 9 points through 4 matches (3-1-0), with the Crew just ahead on goal differential. Toronto FC next plays at home on Saturday, April 12 vs. the Colorado Rapids.

Here’s Bradley’s 11th minute goal:

Meanwhile in Bridgeview, Illinois, Maurice Edu followed up his first USMNT appearance in over a year with another solid performance with the Philadelphia Union. Edu got the Union on the scoreboard in the latter stages of the first half with his first goal since returning to MLS after six seasons in Europe. The 32nd minute strike tied the match at 1:1 at the time, with the game ultimately ending in a 2:2 draw against the Chicago Fire.

Edu picked up a deflection at the top of the six-yard box, and ended up with one of the easier goal-scoring opportunities he’ll see this season. Chicago defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado went to ground behind Edu as the deflection fell to Edu’s feet. A wholly disinterested Bakary Soumare stood and watched Edu turn and line up a well-placed volley past goalkeeper Sean Johnson.

The draw kept Philadelphia steady in 5th place in the Eastern Conference with 6 points through 5 matches (1-1-3). The Union continue to get results, having only lost once, but have been unable to close out wins. Philadelphia next plays at home on Saturday, April 12 vs. Real Salt Lake.

Here’s a look at Edu’s first goal of 2014: