Score: Sounders FC 2 vs. Galaxy 2
Site: StubHub Center
Records: Sounders FC (19-10-4, 61 points). LA Galaxy (17-6-10, 61 points).
Man of the Match: Obafemi Martins caused havoc in the first half with a trio of shots, and the forward assisted on both of Seattle’s goals in the second half. In the 69th minute, DeAndre Yedlin beat his man down the right wing and played in a cross that Martins flicked on to Clint Dempsey, who finished a left-footed shot at the far post. Three minutes later, Martins found a wide-open Lamar Neagle on the right wing, and Neagle placed a shot in the bottom left corner to tie the match at two.
Telling Stat: 12. Martins now has a dozen assists this year—one shy of the club record—strengthening his MVP ballot on Sunday while LA forward Robbie Keane did not record a goal or an assist in the match. Heading into the regular-season finale, Keane has 19 goals and 14 assists while Martins has 17 goals to go along with his 12 assists.
What You Missed: There were 31 fouls committed and seven yellow cards handed out between the two teams, including an ejection for Omar Gonzalez in the 88th minute after he was shown his second yellow card. As a result, the LA center back will miss Saturday’s match at CenturyLink Field.
So What: The Sounders and Galaxy are now tied at 61 points with one match remaining. If Seattle wins or draws the regular-season finale at CenturyLink Field on Saturday, it will clinch the club’s first Supporters’ Shield. The Sounders are looking to become just the second team to win the U.S. Open Cup and the Supporters’ Shield in the same year.
