Obafemi Martins scored twice as Seattle Sounders FC (18-9-3, 57 points) defeated Chivas USA (6-18-6, 24 points), 4-2, Saturday afternoon on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Lamar Neagle and Clint Dempsey also scored as Seattle took a three-point lead in the Supporters' Shield standings.
Martins' 15 goals this season are a new franchise record, passing Eddie Johnson's 14 in 2012. He now has six goals and three assists in five career games against Chivas USA.
With the win, Sounders FC also matched its club record of 18 wins, set in 2011.
Chivas USA began the scoring in the 12th minute with a goal by Erick Torres. Akira Kaji played Felix Borja into the box on the right side for an attempt that was saved by Stefan Frei. Torres collected the rebound and slotted it into the back of the net.
In the 14th minute, Martins equalized when he collected a pass from Marco Pappa, evaded a defender, and rocketed a 30-yard, left-footed shot past Dan Kennedy.
Chivas USA regained the lead in the 18th minute on a Seattle own goal before Sounders FC tied the game again in the 37th. Neagle collected a pass through the middle that deflected off a Chivas defender right into his path in the box, then slotted it past Kennedy. Neagle has eight goals in 2014, tying his career high set last season.
Dempsey put Seattle up 3-2 in first-half stoppage time when he took a pass through the defense from Martins and knocked in a left-footed shot for his 13th goal of the season.
In the 51st minute, Seatte extended the lead to 4-2 on Martins' second goal of the match. He received a pass from Neagle in the box, put a move on a defender to create some space, then chipped a 10-yard shot that took a deflection and rolled past Kennedy.
Seattle extends its winning streak against Chivas USA to eight games and has not lost to the Goats since 2009.
Sounders FC returns to action next Sunday, October 5th at the Colorado Rapids. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. PT at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Scoring Summary:
CHV - Erick Torres 12'
SEA - Obafemi Martins (Marco Pappa) 14'
CHV - Own Goal (Jalil Anibaba) 18'
SEA - Lamar Neagle 37'
SEA - Clint Dempsey (Obafemi Martins) 45+1'
SEA - Obafemi Martins (Lamar Neagle) 51'
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; DeAndre Yedlin, Chad Marshall, Jalil Anibaba, Brad Evans; Marco Pappa (Andy Rose 69), Osvaldo Alonso, Micheal Azira, Lamar Neagle, Clint Dempsey (Sean Okoli 90+1), Obafemi Martins (Dylan Remick 90+1).
Substitutes Not Used: Marcus Hahnemann, Djimi Traore, Kenny Cooper, Chad Barrett.
TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Dempsey, 8); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Dempsey, 4); FOULS: 13 (5 tied at 2); OFFSIDE: 3 (Neagle, 2); CORNER KICKS: 4 (Evans, 3); SAVES: 3 (Frei, 3).
Chivas USA - Dan Kennedy; Akira Kaji, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Bobby Burling, Donald Toia; Nathan Sturgis (Marvin Chavez 72), Oswaldo Minda (Agustin Pelleteri 87), Matthew Dunn, Leandro Barrera (Luis Bolanos 77); Felix Borja, Erick Torres.
Substitutes Not Used: Trevor Spangenberg, Eric Avila, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Tony Lochhead.
TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Torres, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Borja, 2); FOULS: 15 (2 tied at 4); OFFSIDE: 1 (Torres, 1); CORNER KICKS: 2 (2 tied at 1); SAVES: 5 (Kennedy, 5).
Misconduct Summary:
CHV - Oswaldo Minda (caution) 13'
CHV - Bobby Burling (caution) 78'
Referee: Drew Fischer
Referee's Assistants: Corey Rockwell, Jeremy Hanson
4th Official: Baboucarr Jallow
Attendance: 38,713
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Sunny and 66 degrees
