Clint Dempsey carried the ball into the Chivas USA end on Saturday and looked up to see four defenders converging. Already confident, Dempsey was also riding a streak that saw him score goals in each of his last three matches for Sounders FC, with five goals coming in the last two matches. So when Obafemi Martins crossed in front of him into an opening on the left side, Dempsey didn’t slow the attack to let Seattle build more numbers. He didn’t even give those four defenders a chance to process the challenge laid before them.
All four collapsed on Dempsey, trying to keep the U.S. National Team captain from scoring in a fourth consecutive match, so he deftly laid the ball off for Martins up the left side for a skillful goal, chipping the oncoming goalkeeper Dan Kennedy for the game-winning goal as Sounders FC jumped to 4-2-1 with a 2-1 win over Chivas USA at the StubHub Center.
“There was a little space that I showed Clint to give me the ball. He saw it, he gave me the right ball and I finished it well,” Martins said. “We just hope to continue like this.”
The dynamic partnership between Dempsey and Martins has been abundant since Dempsey’s return from a two-match suspension. In the last three matches they have combined for six goals and four assists.
That includes two assists from Dempsey on Saturday against Chivas USA, one of which came on the decisive goal scored by Martins in the 81st minute, and the duo is realizing the potential of their pairing.
“There were a few times we linked up really well, where I was able to put him through this time,” Dempsey said. “He went close on one occasion and he scored on the other one so happy with him scoring, happy to contribute in the game and getting two assists.”
In the past three matches, Dempsey and Martins have shown a trust and belief in each other that has led to some great scoring chances for Seattle.
Of the 60 passes Martins has completed in the last three matches, 20 have been to Dempsey. Meanwhile Dempsey has completed 18 of his 87 passes to Martins, more than any other teammate for both players.
That explosive pairing has enabled Seattle to battle back from deficits in each of the last three matches to earn seven points from three road matches. Seattle will look to continue that unbeaten run as it returns to CenturyLink Field for three straight at home starting on Saturday against the Colorado Rapids.
