Seattle rises above Union

This time, a defender was the hero.

A run of four consecutive victories for first-place Sounders FC has been mostly highlighted by star forwards Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, but on a rainy Saturday at CenturyLink Field, it was Chad Marshall who provided the late drama.

Marshall, a towering center back, slammed home a header off a corner kick in the 84th minute to give Seattle a thrilling 2-1 win over Philadelphia in front of 38,516 soaked spectators.

The Sounders (6-2-1) are unbeaten in five games, four of which involved coming from behind, and coach Sigi Schmid said the team drew inspiration from a stadium full of drenched fans cheering nonstop.

“When it’s raining, and they’re still singing and chanting and jumping up and down, we deserve to keep working for them,” Schmid said.

Trailing 1-0 in the second half, the Sounders got the equalizer in the 61st minute when the speedy Martins was first to a ball headed into the penalty box by Brad Evans. Martins calmly finished the chance for his fourth goal of the season, and third in as many games.

The hosts pressed vehemently for the go-ahead goal, and it came when Marshall was able to head in a corner kick from second-half substitute Marco Pappa for his first goal of the year.

“I’ve been close a couple times this year, so it was nice to get one, and for it to be a game-winner,” said Marshall. “It was pretty sweet.”

Eight of the Sounders’ MLS-leading 20 goals have come in the 75th minute or later.

The first half was a series of unfortunate events for the Sounders, capped when Union designated player Cristian Maidana swung in a free kick that last touched Evans into the net for an own goal.