SEATTLE — Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins have picked up right where they left off last season.
Dempsey scored twice and Martins added a goal to help the Seattle Sounders beat the New England Revolution 3-0 on Sunday night in the opener for both teams.
The Sounders are coming off the best year in franchise history, winning the Supporters’ Shield with a 20-10-4 record and 64 points. But they fell short of an MLS Cup appearance once again, losing the Western Conference final to the eventual champion Los Angeles Galaxy on an away goal.
Dempsey and Martins had plenty to do with those 20 wins. Dempsey scored 15 goals with one hat trick; Martins set a club scoring record with 17 goals. On Sunday, Dempsey had an assist on Martin’s first-half goal, and Martins returned the favor on Dempsey’s tally in the second half.
“The stuff they pull off is unique and special,” Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said. “They’re just so dangerous individually. Then collectively, it’s hard for center backs. You’re not sure when to step up and who to step up to because they take turns dropping into that hole.”
Dempsey put Seattle on the board midway through the 25th minute. He was taken down in the box by New England’s Juan Agudelo. Dempsey then stepped up to the penalty spot himself and drove his shot just under the crossbar and into the roof on the right side, beyond the reach of goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
Martins scored in the 41st minute. Sounders defender Tyrone Mears, the only newcomer to Seattle’s starting lineup, sent in a well-placed cross from the right side. Martins was playing just in front of the 6-yard box, and left Shuttleworth no chance on a header to the back left corner. Dempsey also was credited with an assist.
The Sounders put the game out of reach with a breakaway goal late in the 67th minute. Dempsey and Martins exchanged two short, quick passes just beyond the midfield line, and Dempsey sent it over to Marco Pappa on the left wing. Pappa sent a through ball forward that Martins caught up with and could have put into the net himself. Instead, he tapped it back to Dempsey for the easy score.
Photo via Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press
