MLS Regular Season
Score: Sounders FC 1 at San Jose Earthquakes 1
Goal-scorers: Fatai Alashe (70’), Obafemi Martins (82’)
Site: Avaya Stadium
Man of the Match: Nelson Valdez, who has played as a forward for almost his entire career, embraced the defensive responsibilities that came with his role as an outside midfielder on Saturday. Sounders FC started Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins up top with Valdez on the wing, where the Paraguayan logged 59 minutes before subbing out of the match. Valdez was playing through pain from the knocks he had taken in the last few games.
Telling Stat: With his game-tying goal on Saturday, Martins has scored five goals in his five appearances since returning from injury last month. For the very first time since Martins joined the club in 2013, Seattle tied a match in which the Nigerian striker found the back of the net (27-1-1).
There hadn’t been a shot on target for either team until San Jose’s goal in the 70th minute. Fatai Alashe headed in Matias Perez Garcia’s free kick to give the Earthquakes the lead, the third straight goal Sounders FC has conceded on a set piece. Seattle did win the possession battle on Saturday (52-48), something the club hadn’t done in its previous four road games.
What You Missed: Andreas Ivanschitz made his Sounders FC debut in Saturday’s game, coming on for Brad Evans at halftime to play on the wing. Centerback Román Torres, who signed during the Summer Transfer Window along with Ivanschitz, exited the match in the first half with an injury. Zach Scott replaced Torres, marking his 100th regular-season appearance for the Sounders.
So What: Sounders FC (13-13-3, 42 points) remains in fourth place in the Western Conference standings and three points ahead of the Earthquakes. That was the Rave Green’s third draw of the season, which is tied for the fewest in MLS. The club returns to action next Saturday at Vancouver Whitecaps FC, where a draw or win would clinch the Cascadia Cup for 2015.
