Road Trip Continues Saturday with Visit to League-Leading FC Dallas

Coming off a remarkable comeback road draw, Seattle Sounders FC continues its three-game road trip with a visit to the league-leading FC Dallas on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. PT from Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Tex.

Saturday’s match will be televised on JOEtv (KZJO, channel 22/cable 10) with Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller calling the action, and can be heard on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM. The match will also be televised live in Spanish on THIS-TV (KOMO2) with Jaime Mendez and Diego Arrioja on the call, and Spanish radio is available on ESPN Deportes 1490 AM with Rene Aleman and Noe Menendez.

Sounders FC (2-2-1, 7 points) is currently tied with the Colorado Rapids for fourth place in the Western Conference and remains unbeaten (1-0-1) on the road this season.

In one of the most memorable matches in club history, Sounders FC twice fell behind but continued to battle back against the Timbers, ultimately tying the match in the 87th minute. Clint Dempsey led the charge with his first-career hat trick, which included two goals in the final five minutes, to earn MLS Player of the Week honors and the top spot in the Golden Boot race.

Forward Kenny Cooper added his second goal of the season and Obafemi Martins recorded his league-leading fourth assist. Cooper, Dempsey and Martins will all look to extend their scoring streaks on Saturday at Dallas.

Saturday’s match features the two hottest offenses in MLS as Dallas (13 goals) and Seattle (9) lead the league in scoring. Both sides exploded for four goals in rivalry games last weekend and have scored at least one goal in all five games this season.

FC Dallas (4-0-1, 13 points) sits atop the Supporters’ Shield standings as one of two remaining unbeaten teams. Dallas scored three second-half goals over a nine-minute span against the Houston Dynamo last Saturday to secure a 4-1 victory, marking the team’s third-straight win.

Sounders FC holds the advantage at 6-2-4 in the all-time series, winning both home matches last season before dropping the final meeting on the road. The two sides will meet again on May 7 at CenturyLink Field with the final meeting of the season on September 24at Toyota Stadium.

Following Saturday’s match, Sounders FC will conclude its three-game road trip at Chivas USA on April 19. The team will then return to Seattle for three-straight home games, beginning April 26 against the Colorado Rapids.

Tickets for Sounders FC home matches, including the Tottenham Hotspur friendly, are available now at www.SoundersFC.com and 1-877-MLS-GOAL. The 6-Match ticket package is also available now with expanded seating to include the upper bowl at CenturyLink Field.

Competition Schedule (All times Pacific; subject to change)

April 12, 5:30 p.m. – Sounders FC at FC Dallas, Toyota Stadium

April 19, 7:30 p.m. – Sounders FC at Chivas USA, StubHub Center

April 26, 1 p.m. – Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids, CenturyLink Field

May 3, 7 p.m. – Sounders FC vs. Philadelphia Union, CenturyLink Field

May 7, 7 p.m. – Sounders FC vs. FC Dallas, CenturyLink Field

Dempsey Named MLS Player of the Week

Seattle Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 5 of the 2014 MLS season. In Seattle’s 4-4 draw against the Portland Timbers on Saturday at Providence Park, Dempsey struck for his first-career hat trick and first three-goal game in MLS this season, including the equalizer in the 87thminute.

Dempsey brought the game level at 2-2 with his first goal of the game in the 24th minute when he collected a pass from Obafemi Martins and scored from the center of the box. With Sounders FC trailing 4-2 in the 85th minute, Dempsey again collected a pass from Martins in the box and slotted it into the net for his second goal of the match. Dempsey accomplished his first-career MLS hat trick in the 87thminute when he converted a penalty kick to tie the game at 4-4, completing Seattle’s comeback road draw in the opening match of the 2014 Cascadia Cup.

The award marks the first for a Sounders FC player this season and first since Obafemi Martins earned the honors in Week 29 of the 2013 MLS season.

The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found athttp://www.soccerreporters.com/.

Seattle Tied-Fourth in West

Tied with the Colorado Rapids for fourth place in the Western Conference standings, Sounders FC has a chance to jump to second on Saturday against the league-leading FC Dallas. Seattle has earned seven points through the opening five games for an average of 1.4 points per game, sitting seventh in the race for the Supporters’ Shield. It took eight games for Sounders FC to reach seven points last season and the team waited until Week 13 to reach fourth in the West. A win on Saturday would put Seattle at 10 points and, depending on other results, could place the club second overall in the race for the Supporters’ Shield.

Among the Leaders

Following Saturday’s match at Portland, Sounders FC vaulted to the league-lead in several statistical categories. Clint Dempsey is tied atop the Golden Boot race with four goals and Obafemi Martins leads MLS with four assists. Despite missing two matches, Dempsey’s 15 shots this season is tied for seventh and his six shots on goal are one fewer than the league-lead. He is the only player to record a hat trick this season and he is one of 12 players to record a multi-goal game. Martins has already matched his 2013 season total with four assists and his four assists through the first five matches is the top mark in club history. Osvaldo Alonso is tied-fifth with 11 fouls committed and 15 fouls suffered. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei is tied-fifth with 15 saves, tied-first with two shutouts and posted the second-longest shutout streak of the season at 215 minutes (3/15-3/29).

Sounders FC is also among the league leaders in team stats, ranking second with nine goals scored and first with 12 assists. The team’s 71 shots are fourth-most and the 26 shots on goal ranks third. Seattle leads the league with 99 fouls suffered and has faced the second-most shots (79) in MLS this season.

Streaking Sounders

Several Sounders FC attackers will look to extend their scoring streaks this weekend at FC Dallas. Obafemi Martins has tied the MLS record with a goal (1) or assist (4) in the past four matches, and could set the record with a point on Saturday. Clint Dempsey has scored in two-straight matches and has a goal (4) or assist (1) in three-straight games. He previously recorded at least one point in three or more consecutive games five times in his MLS career, including his best stretch when he scored five goals with four assists over a six-game stretch to begin the 2005 season with the New England Revolution. Kenny Cooper has scored a goal (2) or assist (1) in three-straight games.

Consecutive Games with a Goal/Assist

Games Player, Team Start Stop

4 Obafemi Martins, SEA March 15 Active

4 Erick Torres, CHV March 9 March 30

3 Clint Dempsey, SEA March 8 Active

3 Kenny Cooper, SEA March 23 Active

3 Vicente Sanchez, COL March 15 Active

3 Mauro Diaz, DAL March 22 Active

3 Joao Plata, RSL March 8 Active

3 Federico Higuain, CLB March 8 March 29



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Goals in Five-Straight Games

Sounders FC has kicked off the 2014 season with goals in five-straight games. It is the first time in club history that Seattle has scored in its first five matches of the season and the nine-goal total by Week 5 is the team’s top mark. Seattle previously scored seven goals over the first five games of the 2009 and 2010 seasons, and had scored just twice through the first five games in 2013.

Four-Goal Outburst

Sounders FC has scored four or more goals in a game nine times in club history. Saturday’s scoring outburst marked the first four-goal game since a 4-2 win over FC Dallas on May 18, 2013, as Seattle scored four goals in two-straight games last season (May 11 and May 18, 2013). Sounders FC has gone 3-4-1 in matches immediately following four-goal games.

Team Records Set

Saturday’s Cascadia Cup clash at Portland marked one of the most memorable games in Sounders FC history, and included several team records:

* The eight goals scored by both teams tied the team record, and marked the highest scoring game in Seattle’s Cascadia Cup history. Sounders FC had previously played in two eight-goal games, most recently a 6-2 win at Chivas USA on August 25, 2012.

* Clint Dempsey’s hat trick was the fifth in club history (Blaise Nkufo, Lamar Neagle, David Estrada and Fredy Montero). It was the first three-goal game of his MLS career and first hat trick in MLS this season. His five goals through the opening five games ties Estrada for the best start in club history.

* The match marked the first eight-goal game in MLS this season. Only three other sides have scored four goals in one game in 2014: Vancouver (March 8 vs. New York), Houston (March 8 vs. New England) and Dallas (April 5 vs. Houston).

* The four goals scored tied the second-most in club history and Portland’s four goals marked the second-most goals allowed in club history.

* Seattle’s six assists (Jalil Anibaba, Gonzalo Pineda, Obafemi Martins (2), Osvaldo Alonso and Lamar Neagle) tied the team record for most assists in a game.

* The 41 total shots (Seattle 22, Portland 19) marked the most shots by both teams in club history. The previous record was 38 shots in a 3-1 win at Vancouver on September 24, 2011.

* The seven yellow card cautions between both teams marked the second-most in club history. The Seattle-Los Angeles match on May 10, 2009 resulted in eight yellow cards.

Unbeaten in April

Seattle extended its unbeaten streak in the month of April with its 4-4 road draw last Saturday against the Portland Timbers. Sounders FC is now unbeaten in its past 11 (6-0-5) April matches, dating back to April 2, 2011. Overall, Sounders FC is 9-4-7 all-time in 20 Aprilgames. With his three goals last Saturday, Clint Dempsey is now tied-sixth among active players with nine goals in April. Kenny Cooper added to his April total, ranking second with 18 goals (4th all-time).

Road Trip Continued

Sounders FC will continue its three-game road trip on Saturday at FC Dallas after beginning its 2014 road campaign unbeaten with a win and draw. Seattle’s .750 road winning percentage is tied for the second-best in MLS this season, and the team leads the league with six goals away from home as both road contests resulted in multi-goal games. Seattle has historically been one of the top road teams in MLS, earning the second-most road points (30-28-25, 115 points) since 2009 (LA Galaxy, 120 points).Sounders FC will look to continue to pile up the road points over the next two weeks with matches at Dallas and Chivas USA.

On the Attack

Saturday’s match against FC Dallas will feature the two hottest offenses in MLS. Dallas leads the league with 13 goals scored and Seattle ranks second with nine goals. Both teams have scored in every game this season and both teams struck for four goals last weekend. Dallas has scored multiple goals in four of five matches this season, including three-straight multi-goal games. Seattle has scored the most goals (4) in the opening half hour of games and has also scored the second-most goals (3) in the final 15 minutes. Dallas has scored the most goals in the final 30 minutes (8) of the match while Seattle has allowed the second-fewest (1) in that time span. Dallas also leads the league with a 28.3 scoring percentage.

Two Meetings in Four Weeks

Saturday’s match at FC Dallas marks the first of two meetings between the two sides over the next four weeks. Sounders FC will host Dallas on May 7 at CenturyLink Field. On two occasions over the past five seasons, Seattle played the same team twice in less than four weeks, winning all four games. On August 28, 2010, Sounders FC beat the Chicago Fire, 2-1 at CenturyLink Field, before winning again, 1-0, at Toyota Park on September 25. On July 7, 2012, Sounders FC downed the Colorado Rapids at home, 2-1, and won by the same score line at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on July 28. Following the Dallas meetings, Seattle will have two more instances this season when it plays the same team twice in less than four weeks: Real Salt Lake (August 16 and September 12) and LA Galaxy (October 19 and October 25).

Series Notes

Sounders FC holds a 6-2-4 record against FC Dallas in 12 all-time regular-season meetings, including a 2-1-3 record at Toyota Stadium. Seattle’s lone road loss in the series came in its last visit, a 2-nil defeat on October 19, 2013. In the first two matches last season, Sounders FC outscored Dallas 7-2, winning both home contests. Seattle also ousted Dallas from the semifinals of the 2011 U.S. Open Cup with a 1-0 win at Starfire Stadium. The teams will meet again on May 7 at CenturyLink Field and will conclude the 2014 season series at Toyota Stadium on September 24.

* Sounders FC has outscored FC Dallas, 20-12, and has scored multiple goals in six of the 12 all-time meetings.

* The teams have combined for seven goals in the final 15 minutes of matches in the series.

* The two sides have never played to a scoreless draw. Seattle has posted three shutouts in the series while being held scoreless twice (both losses).

* Brad Evans is the active leader with four goals scored in the regular-season series. Michel leads FC Dallas with two goals and two assists in the series.

About FC Dallas

Under the guidance of new head coach Oscar Pareja, FC Dallas has started the 2014 campaign as the league’s top team. Dallas leads the league with 13 points, sitting atop the Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings. With a record of 4-0-1, Dallas is one of two unbeaten teams (Real Salt Lake) and leads the league with four wins. Despite taking the second-fewest shots (46) and earning the fewest corner kicks (9), Dallas is the top scoring team with 13 goals, including four multi-goal games. The Dallas defense is yet to earn a shutout this season, ranking tied-seventh in MLS with a 1.20 goals against average.

FCD Notables

The Dallas attack is led by Argentine midfielder Mauro Diaz, who has scored two goals with three assists (2nd in MLS) this season, including a goal and three assists in his past three outings. Je-Vaughn Watson leads the team with three goals, including two game-winners. Three other Dallas players have scored two goals this season: Michel, Blas Perez and Fabian Castillo. Defender Matt Hedges has added one goal and newcomer Hendry Thomas added one assist in his three starts. Hedges and Jair Benitez are the only field players to play all 450 minutes. Goalkeeper Chris Seitz has started all five matches, allowing six goals while making 21 saves (2nd in MLS).

Pair of Texas Homecomings

Saturday’s match will mark a pair of homecomings for Seattle’s goal scoring leaders, Clint Dempsey and Kenny Cooper. Dempsey was born in Nacogdoches, Texas, just over 160 miles outside of Dallas. He was a 2001 graduate of Nacogdoches High School, leading the team to a combined 54-2-3 record and three district championships over his last three seasons, scoring 55 goals with 23 assists. He was selected to the all-state team and nominated as an All-American as a senior. Dempsey was also the leading scorer and captain of the Dallas Texans club soccer program.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Cooper relocated to Dallas when his father joined the Dallas Tornado of the NASL. Cooper attended Jesuit College Preparatory School and played for the Dallas Solar Soccer Club, developing into one of the area’s top players. Cooper started his MLS career with FC Dallas in 2006, scoring 40 goals with 10 assists over four seasons. Cooper re-joined Dallas in 2013 and scored six goals with one assist in 31 appearances. In three games against FC Dallas, Cooper has scored two goals in just 207 minutes.

Throw-ins

Djimi Traore will be eligible for selection after serving a one-game suspension for his red card ejection against the Columbus Crew…Sounders FC remained unbeaten in its new Pitch Black third kit, improving to 1-0-1…Sounders FC Reserves will host Seattle University on April 14. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. at Starfire field #12.