MLS Review: Dempsey´s Sounders sink rivals Timbers

Clint Dempsey scored a second-half brace as Seattle Sounders upstaged arch-rivals Portland Timbers 3-1 in Sunday’s MLS blockbuster.

In the American league’s showpiece clash – played in front of 53,302 fans at CenturyLink Field – the Sounders walked away with bragging rights thanks to Dempsey and Cristian Roldan’s late goal.

Reigning MLS Cup champions Portland had never won a regular-season match in Seattle, while they had failed to win on the road in 2016.

And that winless run continued after United States international Dempsey broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 61st minute.

.@clint_dempsey buries it. https://t.co/5auPQDzrVe #SEAvPOR

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 22, 2016

Dempsey was at it again 10 minutes from the end, firing the ball low and hard beyond Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson.

Goal #2….#SEAvPOR pic.twitter.com/xKDUoGAf4a

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) August 22, 2016

Roldan added some gloss to the scoreline three minutes later, putting Portland to the sword with a simple tap-in as the Sounders made it three consecutive wins.

The Timbers, though, did manage to pull a goal back in the third minute of stoppage time courtesy of Fanendo Adi.

…and #3! @CristianRoldan adds one of his own! #SEAvPOR pic.twitter.com/AHpjevBbeH

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) August 22, 2016

Sunday’s result helped the Sounders improve to 30 points, just two points adrift of the sixth-placed Timbers, who occupy the final play-off spot in the Western Conference.

Meanwhile, DC United overcame a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 at home to Eastern Conference rivals New York Red Bulls.

The third-placed Red Bulls led 2-0 just after the hour-mark thanks to Bradley-Wright Phillips and Felipe Martins, but two goals in the space of three minutes from Marcelo Sarvas and Patrick Mullins secured a share of the spoils in Washington.

And just like that, @pmullins14 ties it up!

Two goals in three minutes for @dcunited. Buckle up for the final 15. https://t.co/0LqdQxL1JW

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 21, 2016

DC remain sixth in the table, nine points behind the Red Bulls, who failed to close within two points of conference-leading New York City.