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Martinez injured as 15-game MLS goal streak snapped
WASHINGTON, Sept 22, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez
saw his 15-game Major League Soccer goal-scoring streak snapped Saturday and
perhaps his season with it after going off with an apparent knee injury.
The 26-year-old Venezuelan striker collided with a teammate, awkwardly
landed and was later removed on a stretcher in the 79th minute of defending
MLS champion Atlanta United’s 3-1 home victory over San Jose.
Ten-man United rallied after the 34th-minute exit of Cristian Espinoza
following his second yellow card, a 90th-minute goal from Emerson Hyndman —
his first since arriving on loan from England’s AFC Bournemouth — and
another score two minutes into stoppage time by Gonzalo Martinez sealing the
victory for Atlanta.
But the major concern was Josef Martinez’s injury, the reigning MLS Most
Valuable Player failing to find the net for the first time in a league
contest since July 7.
Martinez, whose streak is an MLS record, has 26 goals this season, two
behind league leader Carlos Vela.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0848 hrs