Josef Martinez scores twice for Montreal to hand Atlanta United a stinging loss

Atlanta United again failed when needing to win, losing to Montreal 2-1 on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The loss extended Atlanta United’s winless streak to five and put a serious dent in its probability of making the playoffs.

The architect of Atlanta United’s defeat was arguably its most beloved player: Josef Martinez. The striker, who played six seasons for Atlanta United and remains its all-time leading scorer, scored both goals for Montreal. He didn’t celebrate either. He received an ovation from the 42,501 in announced attendance that he returned by applauding the supporters as he walked off the field after being subbed off in the 83rd minute. Martinez went to Inter Miami for the 2023 season before joining Montreal this season.

“We fought for this victory,” Martinez said. “It’s very important for us. We fight because, to come here in this stadium, with these fans, with this club, it’s hard. It’s always hard to play against (Atlanta United). I had a lot of moments, a lot of special moments, I have a lot of love for them but this is soccer. I am a professional, I need to fight for my color(s) and we are so happy.”

Wednesday’s defeat was the only result that didn’t go in Atlanta United’s favor as it hoped for a combination of things to happen that would move it into a tie on points into eighth place in the East. Toronto and Philadelphia, who started Wednesday in eighth and ninth places, both lost. Along with those results, had Atlanta United defeated Montreal, it would have created a four-way tie for eighth. Because of tiebreakers, Atlanta United would have been in 10th, one spot below the playoffs, but still with a game in hand on Toronto and an ability to control its own fate.

With the defeat, Atlanta United dropped to 12th. With two matches remaining, it is six points behind eighth-place Montreal, three points behind Toronto, Philadelphia and D.C. United. Atlanta United will need a long combination of results to go its way to qualify for the playoffs as a wild card. Atlanta United will host the Red Bulls on Saturday.

While the loss was damaging, the way the team lost irked interim manager Rob Valentino, who described it as a must-win match as the team’s franchise-worst home record dropped to 5-7-4.

“Where’s the life at?” he said. “Where does it look like it really matters? I’m not trying to question if it really matters to them, but ... when I look at that first half, I’m going ‘guys, for me, jobs are on the line. Our jobs are on the line.’ What does that look like? For me, it should look different. And we saw a little bit in second half.”

Atlanta United finished with 16 shots, putting seven on goal. It wasted two good chances in the first half because one player didn’t pass to an open teammate, Valentino said. Montreal finished with eight and three. Because it didn’t take advantage of its chances, Atlanta United gave up the first goal for the fifth consecutive match.

“Just shows that we don’t start games good enough mentally as a team, especially here at the Benz,” centerback Derrick Williams said. “We should be running teams over. We should have been walking in a halftime, 3-1 up. It’s frustrating.”

Valentino’s lineup was composed of Daniel Rios at striker, Saba Lobjanidze on the right wing, Jay Fortune, Alexey Miranchuk, Bartosz Slisz and Tristan Muyumba in the midfield, Brooks Lennon and Pedro Amador as fullbacks, Stian Gregersen and Williams as centerbacks, and Brad Guzan in goal.

Atlanta United got off the better start than it has in the previous matches but Montreal took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Martinez in the 43rd minute. It came on Montreal’s first shot on goal. Martinez received the ball in the 18-yard box and attempted a short pass to Nathan Saliba. Muyumba, defending Saliba, poked away the ball but it went right back to Martinez, who hit it with his right foot from 8 yards into the upper corner. It was his first goal at the stadium as an opposing player.

It was an example of many goals that Atlanta United has surrendered this season: a bit of bad luck (the ball going right back to Martinez) and bad defending (not clearing the ball well in the first place).

“We’ve talked about it all year long, the finer details, it’s the finer margins, the ball bounces this way or that way and yeah, you call it luck, but I think you create your own luck,” Valentino said. “I wouldn’t even count the first goal as a chance created. It’s a poor clearance, lack of attentiveness.”

Atlanta United answered with a header by Rios in the third minute of stoppage time to tie the match at 1. Amador was credited with the assist, his third this season, on a pass to the back post that Rios headed back across and into goal. It was his seventh goal this season. It came on Atlanta United’s seventh shot, fourth on goal. Williams was also credited with an assist, his first this season.

Lennon received a yellow card in the 55th minute, meaning he will miss Saturday’s match because of accumulation.

Lobjanidze hit the underside of the crossbar before the ball bounced away with a close-range shot in the 58th minute. Edwin Mosquera was subbed on for Fortune in the 66th minute. A Miranchuk shot was saved in the 69th minute. Jamal Thiare came on for Rios in the 74th minute.

Martinez gave Montreal a 2-1 lead when he got between Gregersen and Williams to hit a sliding shot into the near corner in the 76th minute.

Atlanta United faces another must-win match on Saturday. Even if it wins, it may be too little, too late because of the lack of results during the winless streak.

“(A) positive is there’s two games left, so we could still finish on 40 points,” Williams said. “We need others to drop. It’s still doable, but I think tonight kind of sums up our whole season really.”

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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