Seattle Sounders Forced To Do Work Against Chivas USA (VIDEO)

Sep 27, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Sounders FC forward Obafemi Martins (9) celebrates his goal against Chivas USA with Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Marco Pappa (10) during the first half at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The partisan crowd at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Wash. thought they would see a glorified practice session between Sigi Schmid’s Seattle Sounders and Wilmer Cabrera’s Chivas USA. Turns out, the fans were treated to a competitive match for at least the first half in Seattle’s 4-2 win over the Goats. With the victory, the Sounders will head into next week with Major League Soccer’s best record.

Here are six things we learned, followed by player ratings, for the match between the Seattle Sounders and Chivas USA.

1. El Cubo strikes again!

Early on in the first half, Seattle were looking to establish the tempo early against Chivas USA, who had no pressure to play their style of football, insipid as it had been all season. A chance for Obafemi Martins in the third minute from Clint Dempsey had too much pace. A delivery in the fifth minute from Lamar Neagle, tipped in our Bold Predictions to contribute, was speculative at best.

A shot from Martins in the seventh minute was blocked by Chivas defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, a former Sounder. His next chance in the ninth minute off a solid sequence missed wide right, and Martins could have layed the ball off to Marco Pappa on the right side. DeAndre Yedlin couldn’t find anyone on his first delivery in the 10th minute of play. In the 12th minute of play, forward Erick Torres, fresh off action for the Mexican National Team, continued his scoring form after cleaning up a miss by Felix Borja to make 1-0 Chivas USA.

2. Obafemi Martins, Felix Borja trade goals

Chivas midfielder Oswaldo Minda, one of the most undisciplined players in the league this season, was cautioned in the 13th minute for a foul on Jalil Anibaba. In the 14th minute, Martins responded with a scintillating volley from 30 yards out to make it 1-1.

Borja’s next chance in the 15th minute was missed. Borja, who is yet to score in Major League Soccer, was hoping to get in on a header and make it a wide-open match. In the 18th minute, Dan Kennedy denied Neagle on the transition and Borja was able to finally open his scoring account following a miss from Torres and help Chivas regain the lead, 2-1.

3. Seattle Sounders engage in shootout

Suddenly, the Seattle Sounders found themselves in a Seattle shootout. They were under the pump and needed to up the ante to avoid being left sleepless heading into next week. Borja was offsides in the 21st minute. Dempsey, Martins and Yedlin put Kennedy on notice in the 23rd minute of play but the Chivas goalkeeper held his ground. Following three goals in 20 minutes, the match settled down.

Late in the first half, the pace picked up. In the 36th minute, Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei was forced to make a save on a Borja header. Then, in the 37th minute, Neagle made it 2-2 on a breakaway to make good on the predictions. Hurtado played a role in that equalizer.

Chivas USA defender Akira Kaji tried his luck on goal in the 40th minute but it was collected by Frei. Clint Dempsey’s version of the spin-o-rama failed miserably one minute later. But in the first minute of injury time, Dempsey finally got one through and in a goal-filled first half, Seattle gained the lead, 3-2. The goal was Dempsey’s 13th of the season.

First Half Team Statistics
Seattle Sounders on left, Chivas USA on right

8    Shots    5
6    Shots on Target    4
1    Shots off Target    1
1    Blocked Shots    0
2    Corners    1
15    Crosses    9
1    Offsides    1
8    Fouls    8
0    Yellow Cards    1
0    Red Cards    0
326    Total Passes    154
88 %    Passing Accuracy    75 %
67.5 %    Possession    32.5 %
23    Duels Won    25
5    Tackles Won    7
3    Saves    3
9    Clearances    9

4. Oba raises the tempo

More from MLS News

• Javier Milei Elected in Argentina: Potential Impacts on MLS and Signings of Argentine Players
• Orlando City and New York City FC in the Battle for Matías Arezo; Grêmio Enters Negotiations! Who Will Come Out on Top?
• The Chicago Fire does not deserve your support anymore
• Heading to America: Alexis Sanchez Aims for New Horizons in American or Mexican Soccer
• Ethan Horvath: The Bridge Between Two Worlds in Soccer

The second half, for Seattle, required the Sounders to settle down and raise the tempo to their level of play and force Chivas USA to catch up. Hurtado delivered a  challenge on Martins in the 48th minute that saw no foul whistled or card issued. In the 51st minute, Martins got his revenge by delivering a worm-burner through traffic to make it 4-2 Seattle. At first, there is a possibility that Neagle did touch the ball, but upon further review, it looks like Martins set the new club record for individual goals in a season at 15, passing current D.C. United forward Eddie Johnson. As a matter of fact, if Neagle did touch the ball, the goal wouldn’t stand due to offsides.

5. Second half slows down midway

Yedlin took a facial from Toia in the 57th minute but would be able to see of the rest of the contest. Michael Azira was cautioned in the 63rd minute for a challenge on Leandro Barrera. The ensuing set piece from Torres was cleared by Seattle defender Brad Evans, playing his 300th regular season game in the league. Martins was hoping for a hat trick in the 65th minute but it sailed just over the bar.

Andy Rose came in for Marco Pappa in the 69th minute. The hope for Rose was that his scoring form from prior matches would continue on Saturday afternoon. Dempsey had a chance for a brace in the 70th minute but it was saved by Kennedy. With the Goats chasing another MLS contest, Marvin Chavez came in for Nathan Sturgis in the 73rd minute of play. A Sounders cross from Martins and Neagle in the 74th minute was cleared. Luis Bolanos came in for Barrera in the 77th minute. Martins’s next attempt at a hat trick was cleared for a corner.

6. Seattle dominate the team statistics

Late in the second half, Seattle pushed to finish the match with authority. Bobby Burling was cautioned in the 78th minute for a challenge on Azira. The ensuing free kick in the 79th minute from Azira kissed the top right corner, lacking the curve. Minda came out for Agustin Pelletieri in the 87th minute of play. At the 90th minute, Dylan Remick came in for Martins and Sean Okoli came in for Dempsey.

Looking at the Team Statistics, Seattle won a number of key categories. After retaking the lead to score three goal on the trot, the match became one-way traffic, keeping the Sounders within touching distance of their first-ever MLS Supporters Shield.

Team Statistics

Seattle Sounders Player Ratings

Stefan Frei 6, Brad Evans 7, Chad Marshall 6, DeAndre Yedlin 7, Jalil Anibaba 6, Lamar Neagle 8, Marco Pappa 7, Michael Azira 6, Osvaldo Alonso 6, Clint Dempsey 9, Obafemi Martins 10, Andy Rose 4, Dylan Remick NR, Sean Okoli NR

Chivas USA Player Ratings

Dan Kennedy 4, Akira Kaji 3, Bobby Burling 3.5, Donny Toia 3, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado 5, Leandro Barrera 4, Matthew Dunn 4, Nathan Sturgis 4, Oswaldo Minda 2.5, Erick Torres 6, Feliz Borja 5, Marvin Chavez 3, Luis Bolanos 2, Agustin Pelletieri NR