Atlanta United FC Earns First Home Win

After securing their first win on the road last weekend, Atlanta United FC put together another signature performance to capture their first home win on Saturday.

Atlanta United (2-1) shut out the Chicago Fire (1-2) by a score of 4-0 in the afternoon contest.

Atlanta striker Josef Martinez had another sizzling performance, scoring two goals against a beleaguered Chicago defense.

Martinez has tallied five total goals early in the season and has proven himself as one of the up-and-coming talents in Major League Soccer.

Atlanta struck the first blow less than five minutes into the match. Midfielder Julian Gressel scored the opening goal after his pass was deflected by a defender.

Things only worsened for the Chicago defense from there. In the 11th minute, defender Johan Kappelhof was given a red card ejection after flagrantly fouling Martinez.

Chicago was forced to play the rest of the match with only 10 men, giving Atlanta’s offense a definitive advantage.

In the 59th minute, Martinez put Atlanta up 2-1 after a precise pass by Miguel Almiron set the table. The South American duo have scored seven of United’s nine goals so far this season.

Martinez struck again in the final moment of the match, finishing the goal at an improbable angle after dribbling past the keeper. The goal gave United a 4-0 lead and put an exclamation point on a triumphant home win.

Due to renovations in the north end zone bleachers, Bobby Dodd Stadium was unable to hold a capacity crowd. More than 53,000 fans attended the season opener earlier in the month.

Nevertheless, 45,000 fans packed out the college football stadium to support the city’s newest franchise.

Atlanta United will take next weekend off before a cross-country trip to Seattle to face the Sounders on Friday, March 31. 

Caption

Josef Martinez / UNIVISION