Atlanta United FC 1, Colorado Rapids 0 | 2017 MLS Match Recap

German Sferra

In case anyone forgot, Josef Martinez scores goals.

After coming off the bench the last three games while returning from injury, Martinez made his first league start since March 18 and tallied the lone goal as Atlanta United defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 Saturday evening in front of another sold-out Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Minutes after having a bicycle attempt saved by Tim Howard, the Venezuelan international broke through from close range just after the hour mark for his seventh goal of the year.

Goals

67' – ATL – Josef Martinez WATCH

Three Things

ALL HE DOES IS SCORE: Josef Martinez took the league by storm at the start of the season, scoring five goals in his first three games. However a quad injury sustained while on national team duty in late March kept the 23-year-old on the sidelines until two weeks ago. He scored off the bench in his second game back last week against Columbus, and tonight scored his seventh of the year – in only his fourth start and seventh game.
CLEAN SHEET: Atlanta tonight posted their first shutout in 13 games, their last coming back on March 31 in a scoreless tie at Seattle. And while the team will no doubt look to build on this after conceding 25 goals to date, a little perspective should be had: Colorado are now 0-7-0 on the road, and have only scored two goals on those games.
SECOND HALF SPIRIT: Colorado did well to hold on through 45 with a makeshift defense that saw two regular outside backs – Eric Miller and Mike da Fonte – play in the center of the defense, and Dennis Castillo making his first appearance of the year – and only second career MLS start – out wide. But in the end, it was a similar scenario that has played out for Colorado this year: of their 23 goals conceded, only 5 have been surrendered in the first half, while 18 have come after the break, including tonight's.