The forward, who hadn’t scored since last year’s playoffs, got a goal in the 88th minute to lift Seattle to a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City and into the Western Conference semifinals against FC Dallas.
The issue with some highly compensated foreign stars in Major League Soccer is that they could seemingly care less. Nelson Valdez’s problem has been that he cares so damn much.
The frustration of the prolonged goal drought of the veteran Sounders forward, dating back almost exactly a year as of Thursday, has been etched into his face. The Paraguayan has never been able to hide the emotions stitched permanently on his sleeve.