SEATTLE — There’s the famous chip against Juventus in Europa League. There’s the 29-second goal against Ghana in the World Cup. There’s the dagger against Vancouver last season to send Seattle to the Western Conference Championship along with countless other goals with the Sounders.
Most players shrink under the bright lights. Clint Dempsey craves it.
The co-leading goalscorer in United States men’s national team history has been every bit as clutch in his four-plus years in Seattle, and he proved that yet again on Wednesday night in the first quarterfinal leg of CONCACAF Champions League against Chivas. In the 78th minute of a scoreless game, Dempsey drifted into space in the middle of the box and one-timed home a brilliant cross from Henry Wingo from the right flank to send the Sounders to Guadalajara next week with a 1-0 advantage.
“Players on both teams can be inspired by the energy, even if it’s just the home crowd,” said Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “You still as a player sometimes get up for the game. Clint has been in a lot of stadiums where he might be on the opposing team, but he’s a big-game player.”
Dempsey still wasn’t satisfied with the game-winner. He lamented two other opportunities he had on which he couldn’t capitalize, but said he thrived in another electric atmosphere like only he can.
“It’s what you dream about as a kid,” Dempsey said. “You always try to play in big games. You just want to make the most of your career, and that’s how I’ve always been. I’ve just been lucky in the big settings being able to show up and I’m happy to help the team out.
“It’s just another opportunity to try and do something great in your career,” he continued. “You want to try and help your team achieve success and you want to try and do something special. That’s what I think about in big games: Don’t let the moment get away and make the most of it.”
Dempsey and the Sounders will have another chance to shine in a raucous environment next Wednesday in the return leg at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. A 46,000-seat stadium notorious for some of the best atmospheres in North America, it won’t be an easy task for the Sounders to earn a result. But if anyone can step up when called upon, it’s Deuce.
“They’re going to bring a lot of energy,” Dempsey said of the fans in Mexico next week. “[Chivas is] going to come out and try to take the game to us. We just have to do a good job with trying to keep possession and create our own chances. If we’re able to create chances and get an away goal, that will make it really difficult for them.”
