Clint Dempsey and Seattle beat Portland to keep playoff hopes alive

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:57 am

SEATTLE -- Clint Dempsey scored twice and Cristian Roldan added a goal -- all in the second half -- in the Seattle Sounders' 3-1 victory over the Portland Timbers on Sunday night.

In front of 53,302 fans at CenturyLink Field, the Sounders (9-12-3) won their third straight game and extended their unbeaten streak to four (3-0-1). They climbed within two points of the Timbers (8-10-8) for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Portland, which got a goal from Fanendo Adi in second-half stoppage time, has lost four of its last five games and remains winless on the road at 0-7-6.

Dempsey put Seattle on the board in the 61st minute when he converted a penalty kick past goalkeeper Jake Gleeson.

In in the 80th minute, Roldan sent a through ball toward the Portland penalty area. Demspey caught up with it, took two dribbles, and fired it into the back right corner from just inside the arc. Dempsey has eight goals this season.

Roldan headed in a shot from inside the 6-yard box to make it 3-0 in the 83rd. It was his third of the year.