SEATTLE — The reunion of attackers Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey powered the Sounders to an important 2-1 win over a short-handed Toronto FC (11-11-4, 37 pts.) side.
Martins early tally gave the home side the lead with a Dempsey assist on the goal. The visitors responded with a second-half goal by defender Eriq Zavaleta to tie the match at 1-1. The Seattle duo combined on another highlight reel sequence leading to Dempsey’s game winning tally with 13 minutes left in regulation time.
With the win, Seattle’s 41 points (13-13-2) moved them above idle Sporting KC and Portland Timbers into a third place tie in the Western Conference standings with FC Dallas.
Dempsey returned to the lineup after missing the previous four matches with a hamstring injury. In the sixth minute of play, midfielder Osvaldo Alonso sent a ball up the middle to Dempsey near the midfield circle. The Seattle forward spotted Martins darting between two defenders. Martins timed his run perfectly to catch Dempsey’s lofted pass over the Toronto defenders. He flicked the ball with his left foot into the net for his 11th goal of the year and a 1-0 Seattle lead.
Toronto FC missed a chance to draw the match even at the quarter-hour mark. Midfielder Michael Bradley’s cross from outside the box in the 23rd minute eluded forward Robbie Findley’s extended foot by inches in front of ex-Toronto keeper Stefan Frei.
The visitors threatened again eight minutes later. A cross from the right side of the Seattle goal from midfielder Herculez Gomez crossed across the goal mouth. Rookie defender Oniel Fisher positioned near the left post headed the ball out of the box.
Toronto drew even in the 59th minute on Eriq Zavaleta’s header. The game-tying tally came after a scoring chance threatened to draw the match even a minute earlier on Luke Moore’s shot headed to the left post. Frei dove to his left and extended his arm to deflect the shot over the endline for a corner. On the subsequent kick, Ashtone Morgan’s cross found Zavaleta in front of the goal. He headed the ball down into the turf and into the nets for his first tally of the year.
The Martins and Dempsey combination found game-winning magic in the 77th minute. Dempsey started the play with a through-pass to Martins on his right. The Nigerian streaked towards the Toronto FC net. Konopka sprawled to the turf and sent Martins tumbling to the turf. The ball bounded off Konopka’s legs to the trailing Dempsey and into the goal. Seattle’s go-ahead strike was his eighth of the year.
Sounders FC assistant head coach Brian Schmetzer managed the team in the absence of head coach Sigi Schmid. According to media director Alex Caulfield, Schmid had “a health-related issue” and is expected back next week.
Toronto FC played without MLS points leader Sebastian Giovinco (17 goals, 13 assists) and forward Jozy Altidore (10 goals). Giovinco continues to recuperate from an adductor injury, while Altidore is with the U.S. Men’s National Team for the Sept. 8th friendly against Brazil.
Seattle was missing central defender Roman Torres and midfielder Marco Pappa, who are playing international matches with Panama and Guatemala, respectively.
For their next MLS matchup, the Sounders head to San Jose for a Saturday night game against the Earthquakes. Toronto returns home to host the New England Revs on Sunday.
