MLS Regular Season
Score: Sounders FC 2 at Columbus Crew SC 3
Goal-scorers: Kei Kamara (10’, 58’); Clint Dempsey (24’, 75’); Federico Higuain (49’)
Site: MAPFRE Stadium
Man of the Match: Clint Dempsey scored both of Sounders FC’s goals, one on a left-footed strike from distance and the other on a rebound of Obafemi Martins’ shot right in front of goal. Dempsey scored for the third straight match and continued his season-long streak of recording a goal or assist in every appearance.
Telling Stat: Coming into the match, Crew SC ranked first in MLS in crosses from open play per match (23.4) with three goals scored on crosses and another scored on a corner kick. That blueprint stayed true Saturday night, as Columbus played in 26 crosses and two of them led to goals.
What You Missed: Thanks to their braces on Saturday, Dempsey and Crew SC forward Kei Kamara are now tied atop the MLS leaderboard with seven goals apiece. Martins, who led the league in scoring heading into the weekend, is now tied for second with six goals.
So What: Sounders FC suffered its third defeat of the season and had its three-match winning streak snapped. As a result, Seattle is now 2-2-1 on the road and 5-3-1 overall. The club concludes its three-game road swing next Saturday at Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and following the Cascadia clash, five of the Sounders' next six MLS games will be at CenturyLink Field.
