There are plenty of interesting teams to watch at The Soccer Tournament, but one of the most star-studded is certainly Team Dempsey (although USMNT legend Clint Dempsey only serves as the head coach in flip-flops).
On Thursday, they began play at the 7-on-7 tournament with a starting lineup that had Luis Robles in goal (three USMNT caps), Jermaine Jones in midfield (69 USMNT caps), Eddie Johnson out wide (63 USMNT caps) and Chris Wondolowski up top (35 USMNT caps). Jaime Lozano (34 Mexico caps) was on the bench.
Wondo is 40 now but was playing with the San Jose Earthquakes in MLS as recently as the 2021 season, and the league's all time leading scorer is still an absolute monster based on the evidence at TST.
Team Dempsey ultimately beat Jackson TN Boom (whose star attraction is former Peru international Reimond Manco) 5-4, but they needed a hat trick from Wondo and then a second-half in goal (where he still managed to score one) from the striker after Robles went down with a nasty looking bump that's going to become one hell of a black eye.
Jermaine Jones to Chris Wondolowski to Eddie Johnson and back to Chris Wondolowski while manager Clint Dempsey watches from the sideline @TST7v7 pic.twitter.com/YQMhCYn9lM
— Unofficial TST 7v7 Promoter ⚽️ (@usasoccerclips) June 1, 2023
CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI HAT TRICK HERO!
Check out all 3 of Chris Wondolowski's goals from earlier today in Team Dempsey's 5-4 win.Chris and @TeamDempseyTST take on @SneakyFoxFC at 9:30 EDT tonight on @peacock pic.twitter.com/KeGzJ82eJL
— TST (@TST7v7) June 1, 2023
"You've got something growing out of your face."
WONDOLOWSKI IS DOING IT ALL!!
He makes the incredible save to keep @TeamDempseyTST aliveNext goal Wins on YouTube! https://t.co/Rgh79DCll6 pic.twitter.com/KtmTMjugqK
— TST (@TST7v7) June 1, 2023
Jones also ripped one from outside the area.
THAT LOOKED FAMILIAR!
Jermaine Jones rips a goal just like his famous goal against Portugal in the 2014 World Cup to tie the game!@TeamDempseyTST and Jackson Boom all tied up at 3!Tune in on YouTube! https://t.co/Rgh79DCll6 pic.twitter.com/OFZU2ZwMUW
— TST (@TST7v7) June 1, 2023
Robles seemed fine despite the lump above his eye — he could be seen celebrating the win on the sidelines with an icepack on his face.
Full match replay
FULL MATCH: (Group G)
Team Dempsey vs. Jackson Boom@TeamDempseyTST | N/A pic.twitter.com/eaa40U96N0— TST (@TST7v7) June 1, 2023
Team Dempsey returns to action Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. ET against Nick Rimando's Sneaky Fox.
