SEATTLE — Clint Dempsey scored two first-half goals to lead the Seattle Sounders FC (15-13-6, 51 points) to a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake (11-15-8, 41 points) and a fourth-place seeding in the Western Conference playoffs.
Marco Pappa’s strike in the 10th minute rounded out the scoring for the home team. Luis Gil broke up goalkeeper Stefan Frei’s shutout with a late second half tally for RSL’s lone goal of the match.
The Sounders entered the match needing a win to guarantee a spot in the postseason. RSL finished in ninth place, one spot above the Colorado Rapids in the West. The visitors played the match without the services of several key players, including goalkeeper Nick Rimando and midfielder Kyle Beckerman.
Seattle struck in the fifth minute to take the early lead on Dempsey’s ninth goal of the year. Defender Leo Gonzalez placed a perfect lobbed pass over the defender to forward Obafemi Martins near the RSL corner. Martins sent a cross to Dempsey in front of the goal. The veteran forward redirected the ball into the nets for a 1-0 home team advantage.
The Sounders doubled the score five minutes later. Gonzalez connected with Martins at the top left corner of the box. The Nigerian passed to Dempsey at the top of the circle. With Pappa open to his right, Dempsey slid a soft pass to the Guatemalan midfielder. Pappa unleashed a vicious left-footer inside the far post past keeper Jeff Attinella to notch his third strike of the year.
Dempsey’s second goal in less than 15 minutes of play gave the Sounders a 3-0 edge in the 20th minute. Martins uncorked a shot directly into the arms of Attinella. The rebound bounced to Dempsey, who sent the redirected ball into a wide open net for his 10th goal of the season.
RSL notched their lone goal in the 77th minute. Defender Tony Beltran’s cross into the Seattle 18-yard box landed at Gil’s feet. He silenced the 55,435 in attendance with a volley into the goal for his first tally of the year and a 3-1 score.
Seattle hosts fifth-seed LA Galaxy in a knockout match on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
