It didn’t take long for Josef Martinez to get back in the scoring column for Atlanta United.
Making his first start since March 18, Martinez buried an equalizing header Wednesday against Charleston Battery in the 48th minute off a cross from Brandon Vazquez.
Atlanta United went on to win 3-2 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, moving it into the next round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Despite it not being the plan going into the game, Martinez played a full 90 minutes after manager Gerardo Martino made two substitutions at halftime as the team trailed 2-1.
“I would have preferred that Jeff (Larentowicz), Josef (Martinez) and Miguel (Almiron) all didn’t have to play the whole second half, but they had to,” Martino said.
With the team struggling into halftime, Martino pulled two players making their first starts, Miles Robinson and Zach Loyd. When Anton Walkes went down with injury in the 60th minute, he was forced to make his third and final substitution, leaving Martinez in for the full game.
After missing 10 consecutive MLS games, Martinez made his return to the pitch Saturday in Chicago, playing 26 minutes as a sub. Before the thigh injury he suffered while playing for the Venezuelan national team in March, Martinez showcased himself as a key component of Atlanta United’s attack.
Scoring five goals in Atlanta United’s first three games — including a hat trick March 12 against Minnesota — his production as a striker proved to be missed during his absence. Both Hector Villalba and Kenwyne Jones manned the position for stints, combining for five goals in 11 appearances.
In the 28th minute, Martinez displayed some of his dazzling moves for the first time since returning. From just outside the box, he pump-faked a shot to draw a slide from the defender before crossing back over and driving a right-footed shot that sailed just over the post. He finished with seven shots in the game, including two on goal.
Late in the game, Martinez suffered two different scares related to his previous injury. In the 88th minute, he went down on a hard slide and remained on the ground for a few moments while grabbing his leg. He got up fairly quickly and continued to play on. In stoppage time, he pulled up when attempting a touch and continued to limp off and on for the remainder of the game.
“He is tired, but he is happy he scored,” Martino said. “He was able to move well, but it was tough for him to go a full 90 minutes. He had some cramps at the end of the game, but it had nothing to do with his prior injury.”
Kevin Kratz, who scored in the 30th minute for Atlanta United’s first goal, felt good about how the team’s striker looked in his first extended action in nearly three months.
“Good. He had a great header, and he is not tall, so, I think he did well,” Kratz said. “He worked hard even during his injury, you could see him every day at the training ground. He’s working hard in the gym, he needs some more time for sure with such a long injury, but I think he’s definitely a good player. He’s already in good shape, so I hope that he’s fit enough in the next weeks, too.”
With a pivotal home game against Columbus on Saturday, it remains to be seen what the recovering Martinez’s role will be on short rest after playing more than expected. Atlanta United is coming off two consecutive MLS losses and has fallen to eighth in the Eastern Conference standings.
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