Martins leads Sounders over United

SEATTLE – Obafemi Martins scored his team-leading fifth and sixth goals of the season, and Michael Gspurning earned the shutout as the Seattle Sounders beat struggling D.C. United 2-0 on Wednesday night.

Martins’ first goal came at the end of the 19th minute. Eddie Johnson headed down a long pass to Brad Evans who slid a long through ball toward the top of the penalty area. Martins got behind United defender Ethan White, caught up with the ball, and sent a low shot around goalkeeper Joe Willis to the left corner.

His second came midway through second-half stoppage time, a 10-yarder from straight in front of the net.

Gspurning’s shutout was his sixth of the season for the Sounders (7-5-3), who have at least one game in hand on every team in the MLS West as they try to move up the conference standings with a stretch of three games in 10 days. They have lost just once in seven home games this season.

United (2-13-3) remained winless in eight road games this season (0-6-2). D.C. has not scored from the run of play in seven matches since May 19, with its only two goals since then coming on penalty kicks.

Martins nearly created a goal midway through the 63rd minute when he and Eddie Johnson worked a give-and-go with Johnson having a 10-yard shot straight in front of the net. But Willis came sliding out to block it.