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A22 SPORTS
Saturday 2 december 2017
Sounders return to MLS Cup after 3-0 rout of Dynamo

By TIM BOOTH on a diagonal run into the
AP Sports Writer penalty area, and his right-
SEATTLE (AP) — On their way footed shot beat Joe Willis
to a title last year, all the to give Seattle the early
benchmark celebrations advantage.
for the Seattle Sounders Rodriguez’s goal gave
came away from home. the 45,298 at CenturyLink
Finally with the chance Field a collective exhale
to clinch in front of their as Houston would have
fans, the Sounders weren’t needed to score three
about to collapse. They goals to advance. That
were dominant on the way number became four
to another MLS Cup final. when Dempsey finished
Victor Rodriguez scored a deft cross from Joevin
on a nifty give-and-go Jones in the 52nd minute,
with Will Bruin in the 22nd and if that didn’t put the
minute, Clint Dempsey match out of reach, Bruin
added his third goal of the added his goal late to
playoffs early in the second complete the rout.
half, and the Sounders While Seattle’s goal scoring
advanced to the final with deserved recognition, its
a 3-0 win over the Houston Seattle Sounders forward Will Bruin (17) scores a goal on Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis, defense continued to be
Dynamo on Thursday night. right, in the second half of the second leg of the MLS soccer Western Conference final, Thursday, stellar. The Sounders have
The defending champions Nov. 30, 2017, in Seattle. yet to allow a goal in the
rolled through the Dynamo Associated Press playoffs and haven’t been
5-0 on aggregate after Sounders and Toronto to repeat and we’re in the fans and the players scored upon since a 2-0
their convincing two-goal played to a 0-0 draw in the a position now to where is what makes this club so loss at Philadelphia on Oct.
win in Houston last week. 2016 final before Seattle possibly that can be done.” special,” Schmetzer said 1. Seattle finished off the
Bruin added his second won on penalty kicks. One after another, The Sounders took any Dynamo without defender
goal of the series in the 73rd “It’s great to celebrate in Sounders players and nerves out of the second- Roman Torres, who was
minute as the Sounders front of them,” Dempsey coach Brian Schmetzer leg with Houston early. out due to yellow card
advanced to face Toronto said. “We still have our took the small stand in Rather than packing in on accumulation.
with the opportunity to work cut out for us. We front of Seattle’s supporters defense, Seattle pushed “We’re taking a
become the first repeat still have a big challenge and raised the Western forward and aggressively tremendous amount
MLS Cup champions since in playing against Toronto Conference championship tried to get that third goal. of pride in playing well
the Los Angeles Galaxy away from home, but you trophy. Last year, Seattle It came on a four-pass defensively as a unit,”
in 2011-12 — and on the have everything to play clinched the West title in series, with Bruin’s right- Seattle goalkeeper Stefan
same field Seattle won its for and at the beginning Colorado. footed flick the key. It Frei said.q
first title a year ago. The of the season we wanted “The relationship between found Rodriguez unmarked
U.S. bobsledder Ryan Bailey hit with 2-year doping ban

By TIM REYNOLDS has to go through it all over this week, and Bailey’s
AP Sports Writer again. All that hard work Olympic hopes ended not
U.S. bobsledder Ryan for nothing.” long afterward.
Bailey was banned for two Bailey took a supplement “I was disappointed to find
years for what he contends in January that included out that his suspension got
was an inadvertent doping dimethylbutylamine, a extended,” USA Bobsled
violation, ending the former banned stimulant that has and Skeleton CEO Darrin
track and field medalist’s been shown to raise blood Steele said. “He’s a
bid to compete in the pressure. The American good kid, but he made a
Pyeongchang Olympics. Arbitration Association said mistake. And when you
The Court of Arbitration for Bailey had a “light degree make mistakes, you have
Sport publicly announced of fault” when it ruled this to pay a price. We think,
the ruling Friday, agreeing year his suspension should given the circumstances,
with the U.S. Anti-Doping be for six months, after that the price is excessive
Agency’s stance that a six- accepting his explanation in this case. He’s got the
month ban Bailey served that the positive test was potential to be one of the
earlier this year was not triggered by his usage best push athletes we’ve
enough. of a high risk dietary ever seen in the sport and
Bailey was part of the supplement. I hope we see him back.”
U.S. team that won In this Nov. 9, 2017 photo, United States’ Ryan Bailey smiles on Bailey served that There are examples of
a silver medal in the the podium after finishing second in the two-man World Cup suspension, which ended U.S. athletes getting six-
4x100-meter relay at the bobsled race in Lake Placid, N.Y. Associated Press on July 9. month suspensions from
London Games in 2012. The stimulant that Bailey USADA after positive tests
That medal was stripped with hopes of getting back Cup silver medal with him took was not on the label for dimethylbutylamine.
years later following the to the Olympics. last month in Lake Placid, of the supplement, though Some suspensions have
doping conviction of relay “I feel terrible for the guy,” New York. “He pretty much another banned product also been of the two-year
teammate Tyson Gay. said U.S. bobsled driver has to go through it twice. was listed as an ingredient. variety, like the one Bailey
Bailey, still angry about Nick Cunningham, who He was cleared and was USADA took the case to must now serve - with credit
forfeiting that silver, turned was racing with Bailey this extremely close to the CAS, a hearing was held for the six months already
to bobsledding last year season and won a World Olympic Games and now in Los Angeles earlier served.q