Obafemi Martins was hero and almost villain as Seattle Sounders recorded a much-needed win on the weekend.
The Nigerian striker raced onto a brilliant ball from Lamar Neagle before chipping deftly over advancing Chivas USA keeper Dan Kennedy just after the 20-minute mark of the Sounders' 2-0 victory at The Home Depot Center.
With 20 minutes remaining, referee Ricardo Salazar inexplicably sent Martins off after he challenged Gabriel Farfan near the centre of the pitch, making it the fifth time he has brandished a red card for a Seattle player.
Martins appeared to do nothing wrong and was clearly puzzled by the decision after his opening goal and Mario da Luna's own-goal just after the half-hour mark gave the visitors the win.
"It was the referee's decision and there isn't anything I can do about it," the former Inter Milan, Levante and Newcastle United man said.
"For me, I didn't do anything. I was trying to get up and get the ball back, and (Farfan), he screamed, and the referee just looked at him, and they gave me a red card."
On the goal and the result, he added: "It is a good win. We needed the three points really bad and we got them. We just had to win today.
"Lamar [Neagle] gave me the first touch and after I touched the ball like two, three times I decided what I was going to do. The goalkeeper didn't really move. [Dan Kennedy] just stood there. I decided what I was going to do and it was a good goal."