The fireworks started just before halftime. Dempsey knew exactly what he was doing as he tumbled to the ground on the edge of the Club América penalty area. He looked at the angle and warned off Andreas Ivanschitz as the two of them sized up the opportunity from distance.
And then he went off and showed why.
Dempsey opened the scoring for Seattle Sounders in their CONCACAF Champions League tie with a bending free kick shortly before halftime.
Watch the effort here:
Clint Dempsey scores a stunning free kick for Seattle Sounders. #MLS #CCL https://t.co/ArWQLHlKWf
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 24, 2016
The celebration was short-lived, however, as Club América responded 91 seconds later as Darwin Quintero produced a stunning response -- and a critical away goal -- to send the match into halftime on level terms:
Darwin Quintero responds on the stroke of halftime. Tied 1-1 at the interval in Seattle. Live @FS1. #MLS #CCL https://t.co/24FtpcWjmo
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 24, 2016
Dempsey would not let Quintero's goal stand unchecked, though. The veteran forward drifted free at the back post and nodded home his second goal of the night after 52 minutes:
Clint Dempsey is having a very, very good night. Sounders lead 2-1. Live @FS1. #MLS #CCL https://t.co/Ww59Ej1DqG
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 24, 2016
