In the first match of the Sounders’ crucial home-and-home series with the LA Galaxy, they needed their MVP candidate to come up big, and Obafemi Martins did just that.
The Nigerian forward was a constant pest for the LA back four and created the two goals that ultimately tied the match and put the Sounders in the driver’s seat for their first-ever Supporters’ Shield.
For Martins, the two-part battle between the clubs has already lived up the gaudy billing.
“I think it’s just a game of soccer,” said Martins following the match. “Especially when you’re playing against LA. They have a good team. [Robbie] Keane’s there, you have [Landon] Donovan — good player — they have a lot of players that can prove themselves and make the team win.”
A win was one thing the Galaxy wasn’t able to take from Sunday’s match, despite being up 2-0 on the Sounders.
Goals on either side of the break had Seattle battling a two-goal deficit, but Martins didn’t waver and set-up both of Seattle’s goals – first in the 69th minute from Clint Dempsey and then Lamar Neagle’s tally in the 72nd minute.
“I saw Lamar screaming, and I had to push the ball in front of him a little bit,” said Martins of the move on the dramatic equalizer. “I gave him a great ball, and he scored a fantastic goal.”
Martins, 29, was credited with his first assist on an unintentional flick to Dempsey, while his second came through a very intentional pass to Neagle, giving him 12 helpers on the year. That goes with his 17 goals, both career highs.
Not far behind him on the Sounders stat sheet is forward and fellow Designated Player Clint Dempsey, who Martins appeared to be disagreeing with in the first half of Sunday’s match.
Martins downplayed the interaction, simply stating the pair were deciding on what to do post-match.
“We said we’re going to see each other after the game, for dinner,” Martins said with a smile. “We’re teammates. We’re talking about different things. Both of us really want to do well, and we want to help the team as well.”
Both players have been integral to the Sounders’ success in 2014, and with Martins leading the way they are a mere point from a historic Supporters’ Shield triumph.
