Seattle Sounders 1 - Chicago Fire 1: Dempsey and Katai trade strikes | OneFootball

Chicago Fire started on the front foot with an early with a strike from Aleksandar Katai before Dempsey equalized.

The Serbian winger picked up a clever back-heel pass from Brandt Bronico and drove towards the Seattle box. Neither defender Kim Kee-hee or talismanic ball-winner Osvaldo Alonso could close down Katai who let a right-footed shot rip from 25 yards out.

Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei was close but could not save the 9th minute strike.

In a flowing move started on the right wing, Harry Shipp receives a pass in pressure and hits a teasing ball into the path of forward Will Bruin. Chicago left back Brandon Vincent got caught on the wrong side of the physically imposing Bruin, who saw the goalkeeper rushing out and played a clever ball towards his strike partner.

With Sanchez taken out of the play by Bruin’s pass, Dempsey flings himself towards the ball and taps home for the simple equalizer in the 22nd minute at CenturyLink Field.

The former Fulham and Tottenham midfielder’s strike draws him level at the top of Seattle’s all-time MLS goal-scoring table.

Veteran forward Alan Gordon, who has enjoyed a career renaissance with the Fire, nearly stole the go-ahead goal in the second minute of stoppage time but he couldn’t put his effort on target.