The Seattle Sounders went on the road and romped the rival Portland Timbers on Sunday, and Obafemi Martins was the key.
Martins scored two goals and assisted on another to help the Sounders to a convincing 4-2 victory over the Timbers at Providence Park this weekend, and he was voted the MLS Player of the Week as a result. (See how the North American Soccer Reporters voted here.) The Nigerian forward beat out New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry, who also had two goals and one assist, and Philadelphia Union's Sebastien Le Toux, who had a goal and three assists.
Martins, who is the second Sounders player after Clint Dempsey to be voted Player of the Week this season, set the tone for the impressive win in the 18th minute. He put away a Brad Evans cross before turning into the provider by sparking an incredible counterattack that ended with Dempsey scoring in the 34th. Martins then bagged his brace and put the game well out of reach for Portland in the second half, powerfully dribbling through a number of defenders before slotting a shot past a helpless Donovan Ricketts in the 76th minute.
2014 MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
- Week 24: Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders)
- Week 23: Tesho Akindele (FC Dallas)
- Week 22: Chris Schuler (Real Salt Lake)
- Week 21: Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
- Week 20: Yannick Djalo (San Jose Earthquakes)
- Week 19: Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City)
- Week 18: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
- Week 17: Erick Torres (Chivas USA)
- Week 16: Jack McInerney (Montreal Impact)
- Week 15: Luis Silva (D.C. United)
- Week 14: Fanendo Adi (Portland Timbers)
- Week 13: Deshorn Brown (Colorado Rapids)
- Week 12: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
- Week 11: Federico Higuaín (Columbus Crew)
- Week 10: Harry Shipp (Chicago Fire)
- Week 9: Joao Plata (Real Salt Lake)
- Week 8: Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)
- Week 7: Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
- Week 6: Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders)
- Week 5: Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders)
- Week 4: Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
- Week 3: Bernardo Añor (Columbus Crew)
- Week 2: Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC)
- Week 1: Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)