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Sounders defeat Timbers 4-2

Sounders’ Obafemi Martins, front, had two goals and an assist in win over the Timbers. (Associated Press)
Anne M. Peterson Associated Press

PORTLAND – Obafemi Martins didn’t have an encore backflip for his second goal against the Timbers, partly because it surprised him.

Martins’ goals, along with his assist on a goal from Clint Dempsey, led the Seattle Sounders to a 4-2 victory Sunday over Portland.

Martins beat Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts in the 18th minute before adding another goal in the 76th.

“I guess I had a little bit of luck, nearly slipping and falling down,” Martins, who shares the team lead with 10 goals, said about his second against Portland. “But with a little bit of luck, I was on my feet and tried to push the ball in front of me.”

Chad Barrett also scored for the Sounders, who showed little fatigue after five matches in the past 15 days. Fanendo Adi scored twice for the Timbers.

The victory moved the Sounders ahead of the Vancouver Whitecaps in the standings for the Pacific Northwest’s Cascadia Cup, the supporter-created rivalry between the three teams. The Timbers were effectively eliminated from the Cup race with the loss.

With just nine games left, the loss also hurts Portland’s bid to return to the MLS playoffs after advancing to the Western Conference finals last year. The Timbers play the Whitecaps next weekend in British Columbia.

The Sounders (14-7-3) are in first place in the conference, while the Timbers (7-8-10) sit in sixth behind the Whitecaps.

Brad Evans blew past Portland defender Liam Ridgewell and delivered a perfectly-placed cross to Martins in the box for his first goal, putting the Timbers up 1-0. Martins did a backflip – his trademark – in celebration.

Seattle pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 34th minute when Martins broke downfield and passed the ball off to Dempsey, who fooled Ricketts with a roller into the net. Dempsey also has 10 goals for the Sounders this season.

“It was a great ball from Oba,” Dempsey said. “When he’s on the ball, you just gotta make good movement to try to get on it. Not only does he score goals, he creates opportunities for others.”

After Barrett came off the bench to score for the Sounders in the 70th minute, Adi narrowed it by beating Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei in the 73rd off a cross from Rodney Wallace. Adi added another goal in stoppage time. The goals were his first at home this season.