Sounders' second-half surge puts FC Dallas on the brink

The Seattle Sounders scored three times in a nine-minute span in the second half to beat FC Dallas 3-0 and secure a formidable lead in the first leg of their Western Conference semifinal on Sunday.

Nelson Valdez got the breakthrough five minutes after halftime and a Nicolas Lodeiro brace padded the lead to put FC Dallas, the Supporters' Shield winners with the best record in the regular season, in a big hole ahead of the second leg.

Dallas was on the back foot immediately with keeper Chris Seitz forced to reach behind to keep Valdez's header from crossing the line in the fourth minute.

The Sounders came close again in the 27th minute when defender Matt Hedges had to make a double goal line clearance, first to stop Erick Friberg and then to keep it out again when it came back to him off of defender Victor Ulloa.

Jordan Morris unleashed a hard sho in the 36th minute that Seitz got down to save, while Dallas offered very little in response.

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

---

The Sounders dominated possession possession throughout the match and their resilience paid off early in the second half when Seitz misplayed a Joevin Jones cross and Valdez headed home.

Five minutes later, Jordan Morris charged to the endline before squeezing in an inch-perfect low cross for Lodeiro to double the lead.

Lodeiro then beat the offside trap in the center of the pitch to run in on goal and make it 3-0 in the 58th minute.

Dallas stepped up its attack in the final half-hour but failed to truly threaten the Sounders' goal and now face a momentous task to turn around the deficit when the series returns to Texas next Sunday.