SEATTLE - Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey will be forced to miss the Sounders’ first rivalry matchup of the season against the Portland Timbers on Sunday at Providence Park after receiving the first red card of his MLS career on Wednesday.
Dempsey earned the card in the 33rd minute of the Sounders’ midweek match against FC Dallas at CenturyLink Field for violent conduct after making contact to the face of FC Dallas midfielder Juan Ortiz. Head referee Ricardo Salazar conferred with his officiating crew after Dempsey and Ortiz became tangled up outside the Dallas penalty box and then sent the Seattle star to the locker room, much to the chargin of the 40,101 fans at CenturyLink Field.
Dempsey was issued a red card during a match in the early rounds of the 2015 U.S. Open Cup, but Wednesday marked his first red card in 138 MLS regular season appearances.
Ortiz was issued a yellow card on the play and remained in the game.
Dempsey recently missed five games for the Sounders while on duty with the U.S. national team during the Copa America Centenario, and the Sounders posted a 1-3-1 record in that span.
Dempsey converted an early penalty kick on Wednesday night for his third goal of the season, and first since May 7.
Barring a move from Major League Soccer to rescind the card, the decision will leave Dempsey behind in Seattle when the team travels to Portland this weekend for a crucial Cascadia Cup match on Sunday (12 p.m. PT; FOX/KIRO 97.3 FM/El Rey 1360AM).
