Score: Sounders FC 4 vs. Portland Timbers 2
Site: Providence Park
Records: Sounders FC (14-7-3, 45 points). Portland Timbers (7-8-10, 31 points).
Man of the Match: Obafemi Martins had a goal and an assist to push Seattle to a 2-0 halftime lead, then added another goal in the second half, turning in a standout performance to help lift Seattle to the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings. His 10 goals surpasses his total from 2013, when he finished the season with eight goals in 20 matches. He is also tops on the team with eight assists.
Telling Stat: 8-2. Clint Dempsey’s two second-half goals back in April at Providence Park that gave Dempsey a hat trick and Seattle a 4-4 comeback draw dramatically shifted the series momentum in favor of Sounders FC. In the 213 minutes since Portland took a 4-2 lead over Seattle in that match, Sounders FC has outscored the Timbers 8-2 and Dempsey has four goals and one assist in that stretch.
What You Missed: After Dempsey scored the second goal of the match on an assist from Martins, Dempsey ran to the corner and did his leaping goal celebration. In joining Dempsey in the corner, Martins mimicked the leaping celebration with an ear-to-ear grin to contrast Dempsey’s scowl.
So What: The win puts Seattle back alone on top of the Supporters’ Shield standings, two points ahead of second-place D.C. United and three points clear of Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas and Sporting Kansas City. After going 3-1-1 over a stretch of five games in 15 days, Seattle now will host the Colorado Rapids on Saturday at CenturyLink Field. Seattle also jumped to the lead in the Cascadia Cup standings with eight points (2-1-2) while also eliminating the Timbers (0-3-1, one point) from contention. Vancouver Whitecaps FC is second with seven points (2-0-1).
