Josef Martinez Voted MLS Player of the Week
September 23, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release
ATLANTA - Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for the 29th week of the 2019 MLS season.
Martinez recorded a brace in Atlanta's 2-0 victory over FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium on Wednesday, extending his MLS record scoring streak to 15 consecutive league matches. Martinez has scored 26 goals, third most in MLS, along with two assists this season. Atlanta sits second in the Eastern Conference with 54 points (17-11-3 overall record) and has secured a spot in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.
With the match scoreless in the second half, Martinez gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute. Pity MartÃ-nez sent a pass down the field to free up the Venezuelan from defenders, as Josef Martinez collected the ball, dribbled into the box and finished with a right-footed shot past the Cincinnati goalkeeper.
Atlanta doubled its lead in the 65th minute when Martinez dazzled with an incredible display of skill. Martinez ditched a defender with a right-footed backheel flick over his head just outside the box, then fooled two more defenders in the box with a pair of cutbacks before unleashing a powerful left-footed shot into the left corner of goal.
The Venezuelan striker scored 21 goals during the scoring steak, which ended when Martinez left Saturday's 3-1 win against San Jose with an injury in the 79th minute. It ended as the fifth-longest recorded streak in world soccer history.
Atlanta United faces New York City FC on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium in a matchup of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference standings (7 p.m. ET, FOX Sports South / ESPN+ / TSN5), before playing the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo on Sunday (5 p.m. ET, FOX Sports South/ ESPN+ / TVA Sports / TSN5).
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
Major League Soccer Stories from September 23, 2019
- Earthquakes Weekly Update: September 23, 2019 - San Jose Earthquakes
- Sporting and Yohan Croizet Mutually Agree to Part Ways - Sporting Kansas City
- Philadelphia Union and Apple Leisure Group Launch Ultimate Union Fan Vacation Package - Philadelphia Union
- Christian Ramirez, Boniek GarcÃÂa Named to MLS Team of the Week - Houston Dynamo FC
- Josef Martinez Voted MLS Player of the Week - Atlanta United FC
- Atlanta United Forward Josef Mart=C3=ADnez Voted MLS Player of the Week - MLS
- Red Bulls - D.C. United Match Picked up by FS1 and FOX Deportes - New York Red Bulls
- D.C. United Match against the New York Red Bulls Switched to FS1 - D.C. United
- MLS Matchups Announced for FS1 Doubleheader on September 29 - MLS
- FC Cincinnati Weekly Update: September 23, 2019 - FC Cincinnati
- FC Cincinnati to Celebrate Fans with Fan Appreciation Activities this Week - FC Cincinnati
- Michael Parkhurst Announces Retirement - Atlanta United FC
- Sounders FC Suffers 2-0 Road Defeat to Eastern Conference Side D.C. United - Seattle Sounders FC
- Union clinch home field advantage in first round playoffs despite loss - Philadelphia Union
- D.C. United Beat the Seattle Sounders 2-0 at Audi Field - D.C. United
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
