Seattle Sounders Designated Player Clint Dempsey missed his first match of 2016 on Saturday night against the Colorado Rapids after skipping the team’s trip to Denver with tightness in his groin.
Dempsey was held back from the trip as a precautionary measure, according to the Sounders. Dempsey had logged every minute of the team’s six MLS regular season games and played all 180 minutes of team’s Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series. He’s scored one goal in league play this season.
Designated Player Nelson Valdez was also held back from the trip for precautionary reasons after he felt tightness in his hamstring during the team’s training session on Friday. Valdez missed his first start of the season last week due to injury, but has appeared in five games this season, including four starts.
Neither injury is long-term, and at this stage the Sounders’ technical staff expects both players to be available on April 30 against Columbus Crew SC.
Veteran forward Herculez Gomez picked up his first start with the club since he was acquired on March 24, while midfielder Erik Friberg made his first appearance since March 12, when he injured his MCL at Real Salt Lake.
