Major League Soccer has nominated Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey for 2017 MLS Comeback Player of the Year. An irregular heartbeat kept Dempsey out of the final third of the 2016 regular season and the entire run through the MLS Cup Playoffs, but he returned mightily this year with a team-high 12 goals, the second-highest goal production in his eight MLS seasons.
Ahead of the Comeback Player of the Year announcement on Nov. 15, SoundersFC.com counts down Dempsey’s top five goals of the year to date.
No. 5: At Minnesota United (8/5)
No. 4: At Chicago Fire (5/13)
No. 3: Vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (11/2)
No. 1: November 14
No. 2
With the Seattle Sounders holding on to a 2-1 lead at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park against the Colorado Rapids on July 4, Dempsey secured all three road points in the most emphatic way.
Goalkeeper Stefan Frei booted the ball deep down field before forward Will Bruin flicked it on with his head right into Dempsey’s path. Dempsey took it in stride, let it bounce once and then unleashed a golazo of a left-footed volley to the far post and past the outstretched arms of his U.S. international teammate Tim Howard. The degree of difficulty and the clutch timing were vintage Deuce and is one of the best technical finishes he’s had in his four years in Seattle.
