Sounders forward Clint Dempsey was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week Tuesday by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). Dempsey tallied two goals in Seattle’s 3-1 win over the Portland Timbers Sunday at CenturyLink Field.
After a scoreless first half, Dempsey gave the Sounders a 1-0 advantage with a penalty kick in the 61st minute, burying his attempt past Timbers keeper Jack Gleeson after Cristian Roldan was fouled making a run inside the area.
Dempsey notched his second goal in the 80th minute, receiving a pass from Roldan before slotting a shot past Gleeson at the netminder’s far post. With his eighth goal, Dempsey is tied with Jordan Morris for the team lead in scoring.
Dempsey also has eight goals against the Timbers in seven matches, the most scored by a Sounders player against any single MLS opponent. The weekly award was Dempsey’s first of the season.
Unbeaten in four matches under interim head coach Brian Schmetzer, the Sounders (9-12-3, 30 points) have two road matches in the next week. They play at Houston Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT, and at Portland’s Providence Park at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Sounders activate Torres
The Sounders Tuesday activated defender Ramon Torres, sidelined since last September, from the disabled list. The 30-year-old Torres signed with Seattle Aug. 12, 2015 from Colombian side Millonarios and appeared in four matches before suffering a left ACL tear in a match against San Jose Sept. 12, 2015. He underwent successful knee surgery.
