Dempsey superb as Sounders top Dallas

Twice coming from behind, the last in the 85th minute on a second goal from Clint Dempsey, the Sounders picked up a big road win Saturday night, 3-2 over previously undefeated FC Dallas, which had the best record in MLS.

After a hat trick Saturday in Portland, Dempsey, who had on hand a few dozen family and friends who made the three-hour drive from his Texas home town of Nacogdoches, has five goals in two games, a club record.

The Sounders had a terrible first half and were lucky to be down 2-1 after being outshot 6-1 and possessing the ball only 41 percent, which loomed larger in Dempsey’s mind.

“We’re disappointed in our play,” he said on the post-game telecast. “We didn’t play well tonight. We won ugly. But sometimes you need that.”

In the 22nd minute, Dempsey brought Seattle (3-2-1) level at 1-1 with a brilliant free kick from 30 yards that went over the Dallas wall and deflected down off the crossbar just beyond the line. For good measure, Obafemi Martins headed in the rebound, but it was Dempsey’s goal.

In the 10th minute on a blustery night, Dallas (4-1-1)  had a freak score. Sounders GK Stefan Frei came way off his line to grab the ball off a bounce, but the deflected ball had heavy spin and skipped high over his fingertips. David Texeira blew past Frei and scored easily into an empty net.

In the 40th minute, Sounders defender DeAndre Yedlin stuck an elbow into the chest of Texeira in the area and drew a yellow card. Michel converted the PK for a 2-1 halftime lead.

The Sounders in the 75th minute caught a break of their own. Dempsey sent a cross past the goal mouth until it caught the left leg of Dallas defender Steven Keel. The deflection settled into net without a chance for GK Chris Seitz.

The decider came in the 84th minute, when Dempsey worked a give-and-go with Chad Barrett, who sent a pass to Dempsey’s feet for a point-blank tap-in.

The Sounders play their third consecutive road game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Carson, CA., against Chivas USA.