We have all spent a lot of time lately talking about Clint Dempsey, whose high-profile arrival was branded as the league’s most important acquisition since David Robert Joseph Beckham.
Then we spent a lot of time talking about U.S. international Eddie Johnson, he of the U.S. national team and occasional judgment lapses with his celebratory bits.
But did we forget that one other pretty good forward resides in Seattle Sounders FC employment? If so, Obafemi Martins (pictured) reminded us Friday … and then some.
Martins was large and in charge along the front line as Seattle made a real statement Friday, running past Real Salt Lake in a 2-0 win at CenturyLink. Martins had the first goal and later assisted on a swell passing sequence from the Sounders.
Martins, by the way, has played almost exactly has many minutes as Johnson, and has one more goal. (Martins has eight goals this year, Johnson seven.)
Martins’ strong performance made manager Sigi Schmid look good; the manager kept Demspey and Johnson on the bench to start, understanding that his pair of U.S. internationals had gone 90 minutes against Mexico three nights earlier. Clearly, Martins’ abilities ensured that Seattle didn’t suffer up front in the pair’s absence.
By the way, by the final minutes saw Seattle playing with four forwards (Dempsey, Johnson, Martins and Lamar Neagle, who also has eight goals this year). Now that is an impressive attacking foursome in MLS.
Here is Martins’ early goal Friday against the visitors from Utah:
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