Obafemi Martins has been everything the Seattle Sounders could have asked for this year. After his goal against Chivas USA, he's tied for the team's all-time single-season scoring record. The goal was his 14th, tying the record Eddie Johnson set in 2012. Martins also picked up his 10th assist of the season to help send the Sounders into halftime leading Chivas USA 3-2.
Martins' goal was type of strike he's often looked capable of, but rarely been able to finish this year. He took a pass from Marco Pappa almost near midfield, side-stepped one defender and then unleashed a beautiful strike from about 24 yards out that beat goalkeeper Dan Kennedy to the far post.
The long-distance strike was the Sounders' sixth from outside the penalty area this year. A year ago, they scored just one such goal. It was also the third time in four games that the Sounders had scored from outside the penalty area.