Sounders forward Obafemi Martins was voted Monday the Major League Soccer Player of the Week by media membersf or Week 24. Martins tallied a pair of goals and recorded one assist in Seattle’s 4-2 Cascadia Cup victory Sunday over the Portland Timbers at Providence Park.
This marks the second time in his career that Martins has been so honored (week 29 of the 2013 season) and the third time a Seattle player has won this season. Midfielder Clint Dempsey was honored in weeks 5 and 6.
Martins opened the scoring against the Timbers with a goal in the 18th minute. After Brad Evans beat his defender down the right side, Martins raced into the box and tapped in Evans’ low cross from short range.
Martins helped the Sounders double their 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 drilled past Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.
Martins scored his second goal in the 76th minute. After beating two defenders, Martins combined with Gonzalo Pineda at the top of the box, powered through a group of Portland defenders and lofted a shot over 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 Seattle with eight assists, fifth in MLS. His 10 goals and eight assists have already surpassed his career highs of eight goals and four assists, set last season.
The Sounders face the Colorado Rapids at 1 p.m. Saturday at CenturyLink Field.
