Atlanta United advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the second consecutive season with a 3-0 victory over Motagua on Tuesday at Kennesaw State.
Two goals from Pity Martinez and another from Josef Martinez were enough for Atlanta United in front of an announced attendance of 8,474. The teams drew 1-1 in the first leg in Honduras last week.
“I think this is the version of Pity that you want to see,” Pity Martinez said. “A Pity who is feeling confident, comfortable.”
In the next round, Atlanta United will face the winner of the series between Mexico's Club America and Guatemala's Comunicaciones, whose second leg will be played Wednesday. The first leg of the quarterfinal series will be scheduled between March 10-12. The second leg, which will be played in Atlanta, will be scheduled between March 17-19. Dates for the games will be announced on Friday.
It was a solid performance by the Five Stripes. Zero shots allowed on goal compared to six. More than 60% possession. A majority of the duels won. It wasn’t great, according to goalkeeper Brad Guzan, but it was good enough.
“In these games you have to earn the right to play,” he said. “We know we’ve got good football. We know we’ve got guys who can pass the ball. In these games you have to earn that right and it starts with competing and battling and being able to do the dirty work. We did that, at times, really well.”
Motagua manager Diego Vasquez said a combination of the fast pitch, something Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer praised, and Atlanta United’s speed and the interplay between Pity Martinez and Ezequiel Barco made it difficult for his squad.
De Boer changed the formation from the first leg and added a couple of new faces. Coming out in a 3-5-2 were Guzan with centerbacks Fernando Meza, Anton Walkes and Franco Escobar. The two wingbacks, both in their first starts for the team, were Jake Mulraney on the left and Brooks Lennon on the right, with Eric Remedi and Emerson Hyndman as the central midfielders. Barco, Pity Martinez and Josef Martinez were the front three.
Credit: John Amis
Credit: John Amis
Atlanta United grabbed a 1-0 lead, and 2-1 aggregate lead in the series, in the 40th minute when Pity Martinez buried a left-footed shot into the lower right corner. Martinez was put in on the left by Josef Martinez with a back-heeled pass to finish a 1-2 passing combination with his teammate. It was a nice sequence with Pity Martinez passing to Josef Martinez near the top of the box. As the defenders converged on Josef Martinez, Pity Martinez continue his run into the vacated space. The goal came on the 10th shot taken by either Pity Martinez, Josef Martinez or Barco.
Atlanta United increased its lead to 2-0 in the 60th minute on a goal by Josef Martinez, who was put through with only the keeper to beat by Pity Martinez. After rounding the goalkeeper, Josef Martinez curled a right-footed shot just inside the right post. It was his second goal in two games and Pity Martinez’s second assist in two games. The play was started by Lennon winning an aerial dual to knock the ball to Pity Martinez.
Pity Martinez wrapped up the scoring in the 83rd minute with a goal after Motagau’s goalkeeper rushed out, and took out Josef Martinez. As Josef Martinez lay on the ground with his arms raised in a gesture that he was fouled, referee Kaylor Herrera Villalobos signaled advantage. Pity Martinez picked up the loose ball and hit a chipped shot over two Motagua players. Martinez has two goals and two assists in the season’s first two games.
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