Sounders fight for draw in San Jose

SAN JOSE, California – If ever there were a game of give and take, the Seattle Sounders played one Saturday.

Seattle opened with one of its fullest, healthiest rosters in months. But that changed over the first hour of play against the San Jose Earthquakes as three Sounders starters left the pitch with injuries.

The injuries seemed like they would prove fatal when the San Jose Earthquakes jumped ahead in the 70th minute. But the Sounders got back on level terms in the 81st minute when Obafemi Martins sent in the equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw at sold-out Avaya Stadium.

The result keeps Seattle (13-13-3) three points ahead of the Earthquakes (11-11-6) in the MLS Western Conference standings.

Seattle’s three designated players — Martins, Clint Dempsey and Nelson Valdez — all shared the starting lineup for the first time.

Late in the first half, however, newly acquired central defender Nelson Torres limped off the pitch with an apparently leg or knee injury.

Meanwhile, midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz made his first appearance, checking in at the start of the second half for Brad Evans, who had been struck in the face by the ball early in the match.

In the 59th minute, Valdez waived himself off after struggling up the pitch.

The San Jose goal came about 10 minutes later after when Matias Perez Garcia connected with Fatai Alashe on a free kick.