Atlanta United wary of Josef Martinez

The only player that Atlanta United must game plan for in Tuesday’s wildcard playoff match at Montreal is one they know all-too-well: Josef Martinez.

Martinez became “The King” because he scored a franchise-most 103 goals for Atlanta United from 2017-23, when he joined Inter Miami for one season before joining Montreal.

Martinez, who struggled after suffering a knee injury for the Five Stripes at Nashville in the opening match of the 2020 season, is starting to look like the striker who tormented opponents for three seasons. He leads Montreal with 11 goals, including two scored against Atlanta United on Oct. 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Those two were part of six goals he scored in the past five matches.

“You have to be hyper alert of him, because he’s sneaky,” Atlanta United interim manager Rob Valentino said. “He thinks he’s like, really sneaky when he’s behind your back line, and then he moves into attack. And then in moments where you think he’s really not defending or just walking around, he is really alert. He’s got a goal-scoring mentality, so, yeah, it’s just, it’s the way I’ve touched on before, is being really alert in every moment.”

Martinez remains beloved by many Atlanta United supporters. He declined to celebrate after scoring the brace at Mercedes-Benz Stadium out of respect for them and the franchise. Those goals were similar to those he used to score for them in leading the club to the MLS Cup in 2018 and the U.S. Open Cup in 2019.

On the first, which started as a set-piece, Martinez was quickest to react to a loose ball in the box. He roofed the shot over Brad Guzan.

The second was the definition of a Martinez goal: he streaked to the endline, got between defenders and toe-poked a cross past Guzan’s near post.

“Watch him,” Guzan said of the scouting report. “Keep an eye on him.”

For more content about Atlanta United

Follow me on Twitter/X @DougRobersonAJC

On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now

On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson

Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found

Apple - https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C

Google podcasts - https://bit.ly/32KlZW3

If you are going to listen to the podcast for the first time, please follow it on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts ... and if you like what you hear, please give us a good rating so we can grow the show. If you have questions about the MLS team, you can email Doug Roberson at droberson@ajc.com, DM him on Twitter @dougrobersonajc or call 404-526-2527.

Stay up to date every day on breaking news, in-depth investigations, politics, sports, entertainment, food and dining and so much more by becoming a subscriber to the AJC. Go to AJC.com/start for a very special offer and unlock hundreds of original articles published daily on the refreshed AJC.com and the new AJC mobile app. Plus, access to our news alerts, subscriber-only events, AJC original shows, films and videos, newsletters, and so much more.

Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule

Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0

March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1

March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0

March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0

March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0

April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1

April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2

April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1

April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1

May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in U.S. Open Cup