COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Throughout their up-and-down roller coaster of a 2016 MLS season, perhaps no player on the Seattle Sounders’ roster was on the receiving end of more criticism than forward Nelson Valdez.
The Paraguayan national was an easy scapegoat. After signing with the Sounders midway through last season, Valdez didn’t score any goals and tallied just one assist over the course of 900 regular-season minutes, leading to a multitude of questions surrounding his reportedly hefty Designated Player contract.
The Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, however, couldn’t be a more different story.