Atlanta United blanks LAFC on Josef Martinez's goal

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:05 am

Josef Martinez scored his fifth goal of the season and third in as many games to lift Atlanta United FC to a 1-0 victory over visiting LAFC on Sunday afternoon.

Martinez's goal sealed the first back-to-back wins since the first two games of the 2020 campaign for Atlanta (4-6-9, 21 points), which climbed one spot to ninth in the Eastern Conference standings with the victory.

It marked Martinez's club-leading 82nd MLS goal since he was on Atlanta's inaugural team in 2017, despite missing nearly all of 2020 after suffering an ACL tear in the season opener.

His last three goals have come under interim head coach Rob Valentino, who took over six games ago after previous manager Gabriel Heinze was dismissed following the growth of an apparent feud with Martinez.

- ESPN+: MLS chat and more on ESPN FC Daily (U.S. only)

Meanwhile, LAFC (6-8-5, 23 points) fell to a third consecutive defeat and sixth consecutive MLS match without a victory, both club records for the team that began play a year after Atlanta.

The visitors had a potential go-ahead goal disallowed before halftime for offside and led Atlanta 16-9 in total attempts on goal, though they put only three of those on target.

Martinez gave Atlanta the lead just over a minute after the halftime restart.

After an LAFC attack to start the half fizzled out, Marcelino Moreno sprayed a ball past defender Jesus Murillo and onto Ezequiel Barco's run down the left.

Barco drove a low cross to the on-rushing Martinez, who sent a low, first-time finish between goalkeeper Tomas Romero and the left post.

The visitors thought they'd taken the lead just before the break when Mamadou Fall reached Eduard Atuesta's in-swinging free kick at the back post and headed it past Brad Guzan from close range, only to be ruled offside following video review.

They also had the majority of the second-half chances, though they rarely tested Guzan. Cristian Arango sprayed his corner kick header just wide of the goal in the 72nd minute, and 10 minutes later Rossi curled his effort wide of the right post on a chance on the break.