Sounders notch 10th victory
Martins scores twice before being ejected in first half
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Obefemi Martins scored twice before his first-half ejection, Lamar Neagle added the winner and the Seattle Sounders earned their MLS-high 10th victory, beating the Chicago Fire 3-2 Saturday night.
The Sounders (10-3-2) stopped Chicago’s unbeaten streak. The Fire (2-4-8) had tied their last two matches.
Seattle midfielder Neagle scored on a screened shot from the left side to make it 3-1 in the 78th minute.
The Fire’s Harry Shipp cut the lead to 3-2 at the 82nd minute with his second goal of the night.
Martins, who had missed an open net in the fifth minute, beat Chicago goalkeeper Sean Johnson in the 31st and 38th minutes. He was ejected for an altercation with the Fire’s Benji Joya seconds after Shipp scored his first goal in the 41st minute.
Martins was ejected after wrestling the ball away from Joya and knocking him to the turf. Joya got up holding his jaw as a major shoving match ensued. Martins was the second player ejected.
Chicago’s Jhon Kennedy Hurtado was ejected in the 37th minute for going after the ball and Martins with both feet in the air.
Martins scored his second goal on the ensuing penalty kick.