Get your popcorn ready for this one, folks. It’s not often you get a “fourth round” (really the first round) matchup in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup of this caliber, and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event to see the spectacle that unfolded at Starfire Sports Complex.
The defending champion Seattle Sounders crashed out of the tournament in a 3-1 loss to Cascadia Cup rivals Portland in absolutely spectacular fashion. The match was the first for either side in this year’s tournament, although technically the fourth round of action.
Lost in all this chaos are the two extra-time goals by Portland’s Rodney Wallace and Max Urruti to send the Timbers through, but that’s not what everyone’s talking about. Clint Dempsey along with Brad Evans and Michael Azira were sent off – the Seattle and USMNT captain most dramatically. Obafemi Martins, the lone Seattle goalscorer, was also stretchered off with a chest injury in the 87th minute to leave Seattle with a squad of just seven men to finish the game. The Sounders, via Martins, had equalized at 1-1 already one man down, but as the game progressed into the second half of extra time and the hosts continued to lose players, Portland scored twice to seal it.
The 32-year-old Dempsey could be in significant trouble with the authorities following this match. With Azira given a questionable straight red for an elbow to the face of Gaston Fernandez, Dempsey fumed at referee Daniel Radford. His anger boiled over, and he proceeded to swat some kind of paper (yellow card? notebook?) out of the referee’s hand, strolled over to pick it up, and then ripped it to shreds.
Obviously the referee didn’t take kindly to that, and sent Dempsey off. The 32-year-old didn’t go quietly, however. The Texan got his money’s worth much like a Major League Baseball manager throwing a hissy fit, requiring multiple players from both sides to hold him back. He sarcastically clapped in the assistant referee’s face on his way out.
This can’t end well for Clint. While MLS likely has little jurisdiction over conduct in a U.S. Open Cup match, U.S. Soccer certainly does, and they will probably come down hard, although in what capacity will remain to be seen. It’s possible this could affect his national team standing as well, as a captain is meant to represent the country through his actions on and off the field.
There’s a chance Seattle could face the consequences for fan conduct too, as fans expressed their displeasure by raining thrown objects on the referees, who required a police escort to exit the playing field.
Let’s recap:
1. Portland knocked out the defending champs in the fourth round
2. Seattle finished the game with 7 men
3. Clint Dempsey ragequit by shredding the ref’s paperwork
4. Refs needed a police escort
That, my friends, is a full night. For all those who attended, make sure to keep your ticket stubs. Before we part ways, let’s check on how Seattle’s doing…
