Jermain Defoe Scores Brace as Toronto Defeat Seattle 2-1
By Cody Maggard
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
The national broadcast game of the week could not have gone better for Major League Soccer. The stars of MLS, Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley, and Clint Dempsey all had big games. Defoe notched both of the goals for the Reds and Clint Dempsey scored the lone goal for the Sounders.
Seattle held 68% of the possession, but only managed 2 shots on goal. Former Tottenham star Jermain Defoe opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a low strike to the left of Stefan Frei in-goal, Jonathan Osorio was credited with the assist. Defoe struck again 7 minutes later. This time he calmly scored from a misplaced pass out of the back giving Toronto a 2-0 lead. Amazingly, it only took 24 minutes for Jermain Defoe to score two MLS goals; it took Clint Dempsey 7 months (including the off-season.)
The story of the second half continued to be the possession domination of Seattle. Despite the pestering play of Michael Bradley in the midfield Seattle kept going, eventually finding a goal in the 68th minute. Obafemi Martins placed a perfect ball into the box that allowed USMNT captain Clint Dempsey to slot it home, drawing the home side within a goal. It was Clint Dempsey’s first goal for any team since October 27. During the final 22 minutes Seattle desperately searched for an equalizer– to no avail, and Toronto earned an impressive win away from home at the fortress of CenturyLink Field. Seattle is now 1-1-0 while Toronto are 1-0-0; the Sounders will travel to Montreal next Saturday and Toronto will host DC United.
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Lineups: Seattle (4-2-3-1): Frei; Yedlin; Marshall; Traore; Remick; Alonso; Evans (Pineda 29′); Neagle (Barrett 79′); Dempsey; Pappa (Cooper 64′); Martins
Toronto(4-4-2); Julio Cesar; Bloom; Henry; Caldwell; Morrow; Rey (Orr 65′); Osorio; Bradley; Jackson (Morgan 90′ + 3); Defoe; De Rosario (Wiedman 63′)
Bookings: Toronto: Rey 63′; Morrow 78′; Julio Cesar 83′ Seattle: Alsonso 70′
Man of the Match: Jermain Defoe- This is pretty obvious. He scored both goals within 7 minutes of one another, and it was enough for Toronto to win. Michael Bradley also won the midfield battle with Osvaldo Alonso to help his teammate score today.