Obafemi Martins Scores As Seattle Gets Crucial 2-1 Win Over Toronto

Obafemi Martins scored his 11th goal of the season in the opening minutes, and Clint Dempsey connected off a counter attack in the 77th minute as Seattle beat Toronto FC 2-1, a crucial victory for the Sounders' playoff hopes.


Martins and Dempsey played together in an MLS game for the first time since May 31 and showed they remain one the more dynamic duos in the league. The pair instigated both goals, Dempsey feeding Martins for the first goal and Dempsey pouncing on a loose ball at the end of Martins long run to put Seattle (13-13-2) in front late.


Seattle played without coach Sigi Schmid, who missed the game due to an undisclosed health issue. He's expected to rejoin the club next week, but was just the fifth match Schmid has missed in his long coaching career.

Assistant coach Brian Schmetzer said he found out Saturday morning that he might be filling in for Schmid.

"At the end of the day it was just Oba and (Dempsey) doing what they do," Schmetzer said.
The Sounders have 41 points and jumped ahead of both Sporting KC and Portland — at least temporarily — in the Western Conference playoff chase.