Seattle Sounders FC forward Obafemi Martins was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 24 of the 2014 MLS season. Martins earned the honors for scoring two goals and recording one assist in Seattle’s 4-2 road victory over Cascadia rivals Portland Timbers on Sunday afternoon.
It is the second time in his career that Martins has been named MLS Player of the Week, earning the honors in Week 29 of the 2013 season. The award marks the third of the season for Sounders FC after Clint Dempsey was voted MLS Player of the Week for Weeks 5 and 6.
Martins opened the scoring in Sunday’s match against the Timbers with a goal in the 18th minute. After Brad Evans beat his defender down the right side, Martins sprinted into the box and tapped in Evans’ low cross from short range.
Martins helped Sounders FC double its lead in the 34th minute when he carried the ball down the field on a counterattack and found Dempsey with a through ball at the top of the box, which Dempsey put past Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts for the 2-0 lead.
Martins capped the match with his second goal in the 76th minute following an impressive individual effort. After beating two Timbers players, Martins combined with Gonzalo Pineda at the top of the box, powered through a group of Portland defenders and finished past Ricketts to the near post.
With 10 goals this season, Martins is tied for the team lead and ranks eighth in the MLS Golden Boot race. He also leads the team with eight assists, ranking fifth in MLS. His 10 goals and eight assists have already surpassed his career highs of eight goals and four assists, set last season.
Sounders FC returns to action on Saturday with a home match against the Colorado Rapids. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.
