Clint Dempsey leads Sounders FC past Dallas, 3-2

FRISCO, Texas – Clint Dempsey scored twice to lead Seattle Sounders FC to a 3-2 victory over FC Dallas on Saturday night.

Dempsey scored the winning goal in the 85th minute after playing a give-and-go with substitute Chad Barrett inside the Dallas penalty box and tapping in the return pass from within the 6-yard box.

“I’m feeling good, I’m feeling I’m in a good rhythm heading into camp on May 15th,” Dempsey said about his play heading into the World Cup for the U.S. team.

Seattle (3-2-1) handed Dallas (4-1-1) its first loss of the season.

“A lot of people said he was out of form, I guess he’s put those people to rest,” Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said.

Seattle tied it 2 on an own goal by Dallas’ Stephen Keel in the 75th minute. The goal came after Dempsey attempted a cross from the right side of the box that bounced off of the side of Keel’s leg and into the left corner of the net. Dempsey’s first goal came off a free kick from about 30 yards out in the 22nd minute when he fired a dipping shot that clanged off the underside of the crossbar and landed just inside the goal line to tie it at 1.

“I’m always trying to take the free kick, I’m a little bit selfish,” Dempsey said. “I was lucky that the linesman saw it go behind the line, a lot of time they don’t see that.”

Michel scored on a penalty kick in the 42nd minute to give Dallas a 2-1 lead. Dallas was awarded the penalty kick after Seattle’s DeAndre Yedlin committed a soft foul on David Texeira in the penalty area. Michel converted on the attempt after he faked to his right and fired a shot into the left corner of the net.