When midfielder Jordy Delem entered the match in second-half stoppage time on Sunday, he did so with the expectation his defensive-minded ability to keep possession would maintain the 2-1 lead over Minnesota United.
Delem took it a step further.
Two minutes after he subbed in for Will Bruin, Delem scored his first career MLS goal to secure the 3-1 win at CenturyLink Field. It was a memorable moment for the Martinique international, who is an unlikely hero to score the game-clinching goal.
“My [last] goal was in Europe, for sure,” said Delem, who signed a First Team contract in 2017 after one season with S2. “That was back home, a long time ago. I like this one better.”
The entire scene was epic.
Delem made an impressive stab at the ball around the center circle and poked the ball directly to Clint Dempsey. Immediately, Dempsey turned for a counter-attack where he had a streaking Delem on his left. Dempsey took two heavy dribbles toward the net, then sent a slicing through ball to the area.
Delem slipped a shot to the far post, just past the onrushing goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
“It was amazing,” Delem told media on Wednesday afternoon. “My first MLS goal here, at home. In front of amazing fans. It was perfect, it couldn’t be better.”
Immediately after scoring, Delem slowed down and looked out toward the supporters, who were going absolutely bonkers. It seemed like a surreal moment for Delem, a quiet, hard-working player who typically veers away from the spotlight.
“I don’t score too much," Delem said with a laugh. “When you score like this, you don’t know what to do.”
Soon after, Dempsey embraced him with an exclusive handshake. It was the first time it had been displayed in public, with Dempsey’s well-known tradition for having a unique handshake with each teammate he combines with for a goal.
Within seconds, his teammates embraced him. He also engaged in handshakes with Nouhou and Román Torres.
Jordy Delem and Román Torres celebrate Delem's goal with a handshake | Mike Fiechtner
While Delem will always cherish his first career MLS goal, he knows the biggest takeaway from the match was the team’s first win of the season.
“That was a great moment for the team because we’ve been working hard since the beginning of the season,” Delem said. “That first win is better late than never. Now we have to keep working to win again.”
The Sounders visit LAFC on Sunday evening at Banc of California Stadium (6:00 p.m. PT; FS1, Youtube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
