After Clint Dempsey appeared in just one of his team's last 12 games, you'd expect him to return ready to produce. He did just that.
The Seattle Sounders striker scored and assisted as Seattle defeated Toronto FC 2-1 on Saturday night at CenturyLink Field. Obafemi Martins provided the team's other goal in the team's third straight home win.
The Sounders got off to the races quick as the returning Dempsey found a streaking Martins. Toronto's defenders failed to communicate as Martins beat their offside trap and Dempsey chipped a ball over the top to the Nigerian. Martins easily scored his 11th goal of the season past TFC goalkeeper Chris Konopka.
Toronto chose to come out in a 3-4-3 formation with Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore, Collen Warner, Benoit Cheyrou, and Justin Morrow all missing for various reasons. Still, they found their equalizer in the 59th minute. After a cleared-away corner kick, Ashtone Morgan whipped in a cross that found a wide-open Eriq Zavaleta. The former Seattle Sounder calmly headed it into the back of the net for his first MLS goal.
Greg Vanney's team looked to be on their way to a big road point, but they couldn't hold Dempsey and Martins down.
Dempsey flicked the ball on to his teammate in transition, and Martins raced past all the defenders in his path. A heavy touch put the ball in Konopka's hands, but the goalkeeper couldn't control it, and the US international side-footed the rebound into the open net.
The Sounders will travel to San Jose to take on the Earthquakes next Saturday (10:30 pm ET; MLS LIVE) while Toronto will head home to meet the New England Revolution next Sunday (5 pm ET; ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN).
