Atlanta United Vs FC Dallas: 5 things we learned – Missing identity

1. Josef not looking like his usual self

Josef Martinez did score to keep Atlanta from being shutout, but the story of the match wasn’t his goal. It was his uncharacteristic lack of finishing, especially in the 87th minute. Martinez finished the match with five shots total, two off target and three on target.

In the 87th minute, Martinez found himself one-on-one against Gonzalez. Martinez received a pass behind Dallas’ two center-backs. It was a situation that Martinez thrives in and appeared to be yet another goal for the Venezuelan international. But he uncharacteristically shanked the shot wide left, seemingly summing up Atlanta’s afternoon.

He did convert the penalty, so he has two goals on the season. However, two goals in six games is not his usual scoring rate. Before this season, Martinez scored 56 goals in 60 games. His goalscoring pace this season is horrendous by comparison. The root of the problem is his service. Martinez doesn’t seem to be receiving the ball as frequently as the first two seasons on the league. This was typified by his desire to drop into the midfield, frustrated by his lack of involvement.

Ideally, this will improve, but the early returns are not good. Atlanta doesn’t fully depend on his scoring, but his goals are obviously a big contribution to the team and their success. Martinez will need to finish better for the team to improve its chances of winning.