FC Motagua 1, Atlanta United 1 | 2020 Concacaf Champions League Match Recap

Josef Martinez scored his first competitive goal of 2020 only a minute after his team went behind, helping Atlanta United to a 1-1 draw against FC Motagua in Leg 1 of their Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 series.

• Boehm: How Atlanta sidestepped Champions League peril

Pity Martinez provided the give-and-go services on Josef Martinez's 35th minute strike, a crucial away goal that allows Atlanta to advance to their second consecutive quarterfinal with a win or 0-0 draw at Fifth Third Bank Stadium on February 25 (8 pm ET | FS1, TUDN).

Roberto Moreira's volley put Motagua briefly in front at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, created by Felix Crisanto's early ball from the right flank.

Goals

• 34' - MTG - Roberto Moreira | WATCH
• 35' - ATL - Josef Martinez | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: This was a rung or two below the best of what we've seen from Frank de Boer's version of Atlanta United, but it was certainly a positive result given the circumstances. Not only were there the typical obstacles of opening the season in continental play, but Atlanta were also playing substantially shorthanded in a less frequently used formation. Miles Robinson, George Bello and Edgar Castillo were injured. Matheus Rossetto, Jake Mulraney and Manuel Castro did not play as they await visa paperwork.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH:
The commentators hadn't yet finished talking about Atlanta's poor marking on Motagua's opener than the Martinez boys (no relation) did what they do and created a bit of magic.

MAN OF THE MATCH:
Pity Martinez. If the Argentine struggled to get up with his new team when it opened CCL play a season ago, he made up for it immensely in Honduras, providing a crucial release valve throughout the match, feeding Josef for the equalizer, and having a look or two himself at a potential late winner. He also made a team-high 86 percent of his passes (25-of-29);

Up Next

• MTG: Saturday, Feb. 22 at Real de Minas, Liga Nacional (4 pm ET)
• ATL: Tuesday, Feb. 25 vs FC Motagua, CCL Round of 16 Leg 2 (8 pm ET | FS1, TUDN)

Lineups

Atlanta United (4-2-3-1, left to right): Brad Guzan — Franco Escobar, Fernando Meza, Anton Walkes, Mo Adams (65' Brooks Lennon) — Jeff Larentowicz, Eric Remedi — Ezequiel Barco, Emerson Hyndman, Pity Martinez (81' Adam Jahn) — Josef Martinez

Motagua (4-2-3-1, left to right): Jonathan Rougier — Omar Elvir, Marcelo Santos, Marcelo Pereira, Felix Crisanto — Reinieri Mayorquin (70' Walter Martinez), Hector Castellanos — Roberto Moreira Aldana, Matias Galvaliz (82' Emilio Izaguirre), Kevin Lopez — Rubillo Castillo (66' Gonzalo Klusener)