Nelson Valdez went from Sounders shame to Seattle hero and saved the season
The Seattle Sounders thought that Nelson Valdez was going to be a star for them. That's why they made him a Designated Player, and seeing as he had played in some of Europe's biggest leagues to go along with two World Cups for Paraguay, and they had every reason to think he would be one of MLS's better players.
Instead, he struggled. Valdez wasn't even a regular starter for the team and when he came off the bench on Wednesday in the Sounders' knockout stage game, he was still looking for his first goal of the season eight months in.
He got it.
Yes, Valdez was offside. Sporting Kansas City have every right to be mad about the missed call, a frustration that will only be worsened because this was their third knockout round elimination in as many years, but even that can't make it more astounding that Valdez, of all players, was the hero.
Valdez was an out-and-out bust -- the Designated Player who the fans wanted to see no more of, not for anything personal, but because he'd played poorly. The Sounders were often better without him so seeing him on the pitch was rarely a good sign for Seattle. And yet, with the season on the line, manager Brian Schmetzer turned to him in the 79th minute. And nine minutes after that, nobody in Seattle was any more beloved than the Paraguayan.
After scoring the goal, Valdez was in tears. After everything he went through since signing in August of last season, and especially through this tumultuous season, he was the star the Sounders envisioned he would be. The hero the fans hoped he would be. The man in the spotlight like he expected to be.
Nothing can make Valdez's rough 2016 regular season go away. But it will be forgotten. All because of one goal. One season-saving goal.
MORE FROM FOX SOCCER:
Nelson Valdez's first #MLS goal ALL YEAR sends Seattle into the West semis. But was he offside? @HeinekenSoccer https://t.co/yvs5NlCjCW
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 28, 2016
