TUKWILA, Wash. – The Seattle Sounders didn’t just lose their chance at a US Open Cup repeat in Tuesday night’s wild 3-1 defeat to the Portland Timbers.
They also lost forward Obafemi Martins to a groin injury, a blow that Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said could potentially sideline his star striker for three to six weeks. Martins went down in the 87th minute of Tuesday’s contest and was taken off the field on a stretcher.
“It doesn’t require surgery,” Schmid told reporters after Seattle’s Thursday practice. “So that’s a positive situation. But we’ve got to see how many weeks [it’s going to take].”
Schmid said the injury suffered by Martins is similar to injuries sustained by Seattle defenders Djimi Traore (now retired) and Dylan Remick, who each missed extensive time last season with adductor issues.
“So the window is similar,” Schmid said. “Between three and six weeks, we’d expect.”
Martins is tied with fellow striker Clint Dempsey for the team lead with seven goals so far this season, picking up right where he left off following a 2014 campaign that saw him finish as the MLS MVP runner-up after finishing with 17 goals and 13 assists. He has also been wearing a protective facemask in Seattle’s recent games as he recovers from a fractured nose that he suffered in the Sounders’ 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on May 27.
In other more positive injury news for the Sounders, forward Chad Barrett (hamstring) and midfielder Gonzalo Pineda (knee) were both seen practicing Thursday at Starfire Sports Complex.
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Schmid said both Barrett and Pineda seem to be progressing well but are each still uncertain for Seattle’s game Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes (7 pm ET; MLS LIVE).
“Chad’s doing better all the time, so we just have to see,” Schmid said. “Gonzo said he felt pretty good, so, again, we'll see how they do tomorrow."
Barrett’s return could end up being a crucial piece for the Sounders moving forward as they adjust to the prospect of life without Dempsey (Gold Cup) and Martins for the season’s upcoming stretch. The veteran has three goals so far this season after tallying seven last year.
