WE THINK THE correct definition of this game is ‘tempestuous’.
That or bat-shit crazy.
Either would likely describe last night’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup fourth round as the defending champion Seattle Sounders crashed out thanks to a 3-1 loss to Portland.
Indeed, Seattle would finish the game with just seven players as Clint Dempsey, Brad Evans and Michael Azira were all sent off before goalscorer Obafemi Martins was stretchered off with three minutes to play.
Dempsey’s was the most spectacular dismissal, however.
After Azira was given a straight red for an elbow to the face of Gaston Fernandez, Dempsey let referee Daniel Radford know how unhappy he was.
In full Hulk mode, the Seattle and US captain proceeded to rip the notebook out of the referee’s hand before picking it up and tearing it to shreds.
He was promptly dismissed.