Sounders beat NYC 3-1

NEW YORK – Obafemi Martins scored twice, Clint Dempsey had a goal and an assist and the Seattle Sounders beat New York City FC 3-1 on Sunday night.

Seattle (4-2-1) won its third straight game – and fourth in its last five – while NYCFC (0-5-2) had its winless streak reach seven matches.

Martins ran down a through ball and slotted a breakaway goal in the 23rd minute. He won another 1-on-1 battle with goalkeeper Josh Saunders in the 66th minute when he rolled in a goal after Dempsey’s cleaver back-heel pass.

Seattle led 1-0 at halftime. NYCFC has scored just one first-half goal this season.

“First half, they were tough to break down,” Dempsey said. “They were pressing well, they were creating a lot of chances. They were probably unlucky not to score.”

NYCFC’s Mehdi Ballouchy tied it in the 54th minute. After a Seattle turnover in its attacking end, NYCFC worked it up to Patrick Mullins on a counter-attack. Mullins patiently passed it back to the top of the 18-yard box and Ballouchy found the upper left corner. Ballouchy was immediately subbed out for David Villa.

Dempsey gave Seattle a 2-1 lead 4 minutes later. Martins’ individual effort on the left baseline gave him enough space to cross a ball across goal where Marco Pappa drew the defense and found Dempsey for a slow rolling goal inside the far post.

“The second half, I think the game opened up a little bit,” Dempsey said. “You can’t keep that same intensity the whole game. If we were able to get in those pockets and get the turn, me and Oba could make stuff happen.”

Dempsey has a goal or an assist in all six MLS games he’s played this season.