SEATTLE – The Seattle Sounders kicked off their 2015 season in style, riding a virtuoso offensive display to a 3-0 victory over the New England Revolution on Sunday night at CenturyLink Field.
Clint Dempsey scored twice and Obafemi Martins netted one of his own and assisted on another to pace Seattle, picking up right where they left off following a 2014 season that saw the pair combine for 32 goals and 23 assists and lead the Sounders to the Supporters’ Shield.
The Sounders drew first blood in the 25th minute after Dempsey was taken down in the New England box by Revs defender Juan Agudelo, drawing a penalty-kick whistle from referee Juan Guzman. Dempsey fired his spot attempt past New England keeper Bobby Shuttleworth, giving the Sounders the early 1-0 advantage.
Seattle doubled the lead in the 41st minute after Dempsey found newly acquired right back Tyrone Mears streaking up the right sideline on a Sounders counterattack. Mears then lofted a pinpoint cross to a leaping Martins, who cashed home the header to give Seattle a 2-0 halftime lead.
Seattle continued to control the action in the second half, tacking on a third goal following a gorgeous, six-pass build-up that culminated with midfielder Marco Pappa finding Martins, who sprung free virtually uncontested behind New England’s backline. The star forward then tapped an easy cross to Dempsey, who found himself with a wide-open net after Shuttleworth tried to close on Martins and dribbled calmly into the New England net to give Seattle the 3-0 advantage that would end up holding as the final score.
The Revs, who were without two of the star players from their MLS Cup title game run last year in the injured Lee Nguyen and Jermaine Jones, found themselves unable to break a Seattle backline that was welcoming a couple of new faces themselves. Mears made his team debut at right back and Brad Evans played his first game for Seattle at center back.
New England managed just one shot on target all night, a Kelyn Rowe blast in the 40th minute that required a fingertip save from Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
The Sounders return to action next Saturday at home against the San Jose Earthquakes. The Revs, meanwhile, will travel back East to take on New York City FC on Sunday.
MLSsoccer.com Men of the Match
| Rank | Player | What We Saw |
| 1 | Clint Dempsey | Two goals while leading a dominating offensive performance, not a bad way to start the season |
| 2 | Obafemi Martins | His combination play with Dempsey was sublime all night, resulting in a goal and assist |
| 3 | Chad Marshall | Leader of defense that limited the Revs to just one shot on goal |
