After helping Atlanta United destroy New England 7-0 on Wednesday, standouts Josef Martinez and Miguel Almiron said they will be ready to face Orlando City on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game will be the third in less than a week and part of a stretch of eight in 24 days.
Martinez, a 24-year-old striker, scored three goals to increase his season total to 13 in the win. He played all 90 minutes of Wednesday’s game. His performance came two days after he played 80 minutes and scored a goal in his team’s 3-0 win over Dallas on Sunday.
“It’s a different game, so we have to have that mindset,” he said. “It’s also a rivalry game. I’ll be ready. Not only do the players have to be 100 percent, but we want the fans to be 100 percent.”
Almiron, a 23-year-old midfielder, had an assist on Martinez’s first goal and his work also led to a penalty kick on another of Martinez’s goals. Almiron also played a complete game two days after playing 89 minutes with two assists against Dallas.
Almiron also played almost two full games for Paraguay during two World Cup qualifying games before returning to face Dallas.
“I want to play every game,” he said. “Before in my career, I wasn’t playing a lot so I want to take advantage of this opportunity and play every game.”
Almiron, who has eight goals and 12 assists, said he isn’t worried about wearing himself out should the team make the playoffs. Atlanta United has 42 points and is in fifth in the Eastern Conference. The top six teams from each conference will advance to the postseason.
“I just have to take care of myself personally and do everything I can to recover, along with my teammates,” he said.
Instead of subbing out Martinez, Almiron, Hector Villalba or Yamil Asad after the team jumped out toa 4-0 lead, Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino said he chose to sub out fullback Greg Garza at halftime because he picked up a muscle injury near the end of the first half on Wednesday. He is supposed to be fine. Martino said he elected to take off defensive midfielder Jeff Larentowicz in the 61st minute to keep him from picking up a fifth yellow card this season, which would result in a one-game suspension that would force him to miss Saturday’s game. Centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez was subbed off in the 76th minute for a similar reason. Martino said Larentowicz may play in Gonzalez Pirez’s place on Saturday against the Lions.
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