Dempsey to miss Seattle's 1st playoff game after straight red card

The reigning MLS champions will be without key attacker Clint Dempsey for their first playoff match of the 2017 season, as the Seattle Sounders star was sent off against the Colorado Rapids in the 24th minute Sunday for violent conduct.

Dempsey was sent off for elbowing Mike da Fonte, a decision that was reviewed by video replay before the red card was doled out.

Dempsey has not featured for the Sounders in the MLS post-season since 2015, having missed the entirety of his team's successful MLS Cup campaign in 2016 due to a heart condition. He would return in time to play the Sounders' knockout-round match after serving his red card suspension.