TUKWILA — When Obafemi Martins had his one-game suspension, the result of last weekend’s dubious red card, overturned on appeal this week, it was obviously good news for the Seattle Sounders.
For starters, having Martins for tonight’s game against Vancouver is important because the Sounders are missing a bunch of important players. But when you take a look at the numbers, it becomes clear that having Martins on the field is even more important because one can argue that, of late, he has been Seattle’s best player.
When Martins scored his first goal as a Sounder in Colorado on April 20, he didn’t just start his own personal scoring binge, he also kick-started a Sounders hot streak. That 1-0 victory over the Rapids was Seattle’s first of the season and sparked a 5-1-1 streak that has moved the Sounders from the Western Conference cellar to playoff contention in a span of six weeks.
During that run, Martins has scored four goals, matching Eddie Johnson for the team lead, and all four came in Sounders victories. Martins, who was Seattle’s big addition for 2013, is the fastest in team history to reach four goals, and his .98 goal-per-90-minutes average is the best in the league among players with two or more goals.
“We were obviously pleased and happy about the situation,” Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said of Martins’ appeal. “Having him on the field is important for our team. You can see by the amount of goals he’s gotten in the minutes played, you can see he’s a guy who is dangerous. … As a defender, that’s not a guy you want to be playing against.”
Martins has sustained a high level of play to make his signing a success in the long run. Having a designated player get off to a hot start also is good news for a franchise that has had many of its biggest acquisitions eventually leave town having never lived up to expectations.
“He’s the player I thought we were getting,” Schmid said. “He’s a little unorthodox in his approach and his style, but that’s also what makes him very dangerous. He’s blessed with tremendous speed and he fights for the ball and battles. Sometimes he picks and chooses those moments, but that also makes him unpredictable for the opponent. Is he coming this time or is he not? Because when he does come, if you don’t make the right decision, he can put you in big trouble.”
Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer wouldn’t call the performance of the highest-paid player in team history any more rewarding than that of any other player, but did say:
“We always feel a massive sense of accomplishment when a guy, first and foremost, performs for the team, but then secondarily fits in well, is a positive in the locker room with his teammates, in the community, and so far Oba has been fantastic that way. We’re really, really happy to have him.”
Not only has Martins been productive of late, his speed as well as the respect that comes with having played in Europe’s top leagues means extra attention from defenders. In turn, that means more space for other attacking players like Eddie Johnson and Lamar Neagle, who have also enjoyed strong starts to the 2013 season.
“Obviously he’s dangerous so he draws attention to him, and by drawing attention, that means you draw markers, and by drawing markers, you open up space for others,” Schmid said.
After his highly anticipated arrival from Spain, Martins was slow to make an impact because of a knee injury as well as time away with the Nigerian national team. He’s rounded into form nicely of late, however, and it couldn’t have come for a better time.
Even with Martins winning his appeal, the Sounders are still heading into tonight’s game without several of their best players. Forward Eddie Johnson, midfielder Brad Evans (both U.S.) and midfielder Mario Martinez (Honduras) are all playing for their respective national teams in World Cup qualifying. Midfielder Shalrie Joseph is serving the second game of a two-game suspension for a recent red card and midfielders Osvaldo Alonso (quad) and Steve Zakuani (groin) have both been ruled out with injuries.
“Like I said when I came here, I just want to help the team and score as many goals as possible,” Martins said. “I’m glad that I’m doing well, scoring goals, so I hope to continue like this. … And like I said, I’m happy to play on Saturday, because we don’t have a lot of players..”
Yedlin called in for Under-20 World Cup
Sounders right back DeAndre Yedlin, who has been one of the top rookies in the league this year, was called in by the U.S. Under-20 national team for this summer’s U-20 World Cup in Turkey.
The U.S. opens play in the group stage on June 21 against Spain, and at minimum will play three games in its group, facing France on June 24 and Ghana on June 27. The tournament concludes July 13, meaning Yedlin potentially will miss four Sounders matches, though he could return to Seattle sooner depending on how far the U.S. advances.
Yedlin, who is from Shoreline and went to O’Dea High School, signed with Seattle as the club’s first homegrown player after two seasons at the University of Akron. In his first year as a professional, the 19-year-old has not only become a regular in Seattle’s starting lineup, but also earned himself a spot with the U-20 national team.
“It’s a little bit overwhelming, but it’s not a bad problem to have,” Yedlin said. “It’s been fun.”
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.
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