Earthquakes out to slow Atlanta United star Martinez

Josef Martinez will try to extend his MLS-record consecutive goals streak to 16 games on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when he and Atlanta United host a San Jose Earthquakes’ side that plays one of league’s most unique defensive schemes.

Martinez scored both goals Wednesday in a 2-0 victory for Atlanta United (16-11-3, 51 points) at FC Cincinnati to run the streak to 15. He has scored 21 goals over that span and 26 total this season. The latter has him tied for second in the league with the LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, two behind Los Angeles FC’s Carlos Vela.

It’s not as though Martinez is sneaking up on anybody. The Venezuelan international already set an MLS record when he posted 31 goals during the 2018 season. And in his opinion, last-place Cincinnati abandoned any preconceptions of trying to pose a serious attack at Nippert Stadium on Wednesday, instead trying to sit deep to limit him.

It didn’t work. And it hasn’t worked.

“I don’t know why every team plays with us like this,” Martinez told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s ridiculous. If you like to play like this, OK. If you want to win, you have to play forward. More in your house. In your house you have to win.”

The Earthquakes (13-12-5, 44 points) may try to play a similarly conservative style, especially as they close a three-match road swing in search of their first points from the trip.

San Jose has lost five of past seven, overall. After looking like the turnaround story of the year for most of 2019 — following a miserable 2018 season — the Quakes are now in danger of missing the playoffs, currently in sixth place and just one point above the line.

But their man-marking system under first-year coach Matias Almeyda is sure to present a different look to Martinez and Atlanta, even if the approach remains defense first.

Without giving too much away, San Jose midfielder Jackson Yueill explained the priorities.

“Compactness in the back, following your marks,” he said. “We need to not let him have space or time inside our area, so checking our shoulder and making sure when they counter he’s accounted for.”

–Field Level Media