How do you like them (big) apples? With Dempsey magic and Obagoals, of course. The dazzling forwards combined for three goals and two assists in Sunday’s 3-1 win over New York City FC at Yankee Stadium. The match marked the third time this seasonObafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey each scored a goal, nearly matching the four occasions from the previous two seasons combined. Now, the hottest team in the Western Conference – and winners of its past three matches – travels to Columbus to face Crew SC, where Sounders FC remains unbeaten.
Seasonal Sizzles
Sounders FC continues to sit in third place in the Western Conference with 16 points (5-2-1), but has one game in hand against FC Dallas and two games in hand against Vancouver Whitecaps FC – both of which are tied atop the table at 17 points. Seattle leads the conference with an average of two points earned per game. With 13 goals scored – second-highest in MLS – and six goals allowed – tied for fewest in MLS – the Sounders have a league-best +7 goal differential.
Martins leads MLS with six goals, while Dempsey is tied for second with five. Of the five players in MLS with at least five goals, Dempsey is the only player to have more than two assists (Deuce has four). The USMNT captain has registered a goal or an assist in all six appearances of 2015. The striker duo is also atop MLS in goals per 90 minutes, with Dempsey leading at 0.87 G/90 min. and Martins closely following at 0.86.
Last Week’s Listings
Luckily for the Sounders, the winner is determined on goals—not duels, total passes, passing accuracy, shots, shots on goal or possession, all of which tilted in NYCFC’s favor Sunday evening. The Rave Green found the back of the net three times, though, despite many statistics favoring City.
The victory marked four wins in five matches for Sounders FC, and the seventh straight matchwithout a win for NYCFC. Stefan Frei matched a season-high with eight saves. The Swiss shotstopper ranks first in MLS in save percentage at 81% and his six goals allowed and 0.75 goals against average rank second league-wide among goalkeepers who have registered at least 200 minutes.
In addition, Martins earned MLS Player of the Week honors for the third time in his career. He is the only player to have earned the award in each of the past three seasons. Martins or Dempsey has registered a goal or an assist in 12 of the club’s 13 goals this season.
Matchup Mashup
Next up, Sounders FC continues its road streak at Columbus Crew SC. Crew SC are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference with 11 points (3-3-2). Columbus opened the season with two losses in their first three matches before managing two consecutive draws on the road. After two home wins, the Crew most recently lost 2-0 to D.C. United in the nation’s capital.
Sounders FC is 4-2-3 in the regular season against the Black and Gold, including an unblemished 3-0-1 record and 7-1 goal differential on the road. However, Crew SC has had recent success against the Sounders, winning two of the last three meetings – both results at CenturyLink Field.
Sounders FC is undefeated against Eastern Conference opponents this season (2-0-0).
Throwback
On August 27, 2011, Seattle topped Columbus in historical fashion. The Rave Green peppered the Crew with six goals – the highest mark in club history (matched at Chivas USA on August 25, 2012). The record scoring effort was highlighted when Lamar Neagle became the second player in club history to record a hat trick in the 6-2 victory.
Neagle opened the scoring spectacle in the fourth minute, then added another in the 21st minute on an impressive one-touch volley. He completed the trifecta in the 70th minute on a well-placed strike that nicked the crossbar and fell behind the line.
The memorable matinee also featured converted penalty kicks from both sides and a Columbus own goal.
Key(s) to the Game
Play a full 90 minutes. Historically, it has been a tale of two halves against Columbus. In the first 45 minutes of the series, Seattle has outscored Columbus 12-3, but in the second half, Columbus holds a 6-4 scoring advantage. Last season, this came back to hurt the Sounders, as Columbus broke a 1-1 tie in stoppage time on a Justin Meram goal.
Seattle has scored its goals on a well distributed scale so far this season, and hasn’t allowed a goal in the final 15 minutes of matches. For Sounders FC to win its fourth straight match, solid play in the final interval will be crucial.
