Clint Dempsey apologizes for low blow on Toronto FC defender

Seattle Sounders star Clint Dempsey scored his first goal of the MLS season Saturday, but he was lucky to evade punishment in the first half when he caught Toronto FC defender Mark Bloom with a low blow.

Via @bubbaprog

Dempsey said after the game that he was simply trying to get Bloom's hand off his back.

Via the Seattle Times:

“To be honest with you. I felt a hand on my back. I tried to hit it away and thought I was hitting his hand away. I understand that maybe I did catch him a little bit. I apologized to him about that, but for me, all I was trying to do was smack his hand from touching my back.”

Bloom accepted Dempsey's explanation, and Toronto left Seattle with a 2-1 victory to soften the blow.