2. Josef Martinez
The King is ready to return home.
Josef Martínez on going back to Orlando for @opencup on Tuesday after MLS All Star:
— Joe Patrick (@japatrick200) August 4, 2019
"When you go home, you always get a reception like that. That's why they love me so much."
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Josef Martinez once famously said when asked why Atlanta United continue to remain unbeaten against Orlando, ‘I don’t know, to be honest. Every time we play them, they play like it’s the game of their lives and we continue to father them.’
It’s great to see Martinez so invested in playing Orlando, especially when they might not be Atlanta’s top rival (or even close, actually). Regardless, he clearly likes to have fun and will be looking to score in Orlando yet again. He scored in Orlando last May on the way to a 2-1 win. Later in August, he scored his 28th and record-setting goal in another 2-1 win in Orlando. He also scored and assisted in last June’s 4-0 win in Atlanta.
Hopefully Martinez and Atlanta can continue to “father” Orlando, a team they have yet to lose to. He is currently riding a nine-game scoring streak in MLS league play, having scored 13 goals across that nine-game span. Although he won’t set a record by scoring in Tuesday night’s Open Cup semi-final, he is certainly on a hot streak and will look to continue his form with another goal (or more).