Montreal Impact 1, Atlanta United FC 2 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

Atlanta United FC extended their Supporters’ Shield lead and Josef Martinez inched closer to an MLS record.

On Saturday night at Stade Saputo, Martinez scored his 23rd and 24th goals of the season to lead first-place Atlanta to a 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact in a game that featured an hour-plus weather delay.

Martinez’s first goal of the night came in the 31st minute and the MLS Golden Beat leader missed a big chance at another just before halftime, when the game was delayed due to a lightning streak in the area.

The Atlanta striker stayed just as hot after the long break, banging in a rebound after Jukka Raitala saved a Franco Escobar shot off the line.

Ignacio Piatti's 87th-minute strike was not enough for the Impact, who saw a five-game home winning streak snapped.

Atlanta, unbeaten in their last four, moved four points clear of New York City FC, who play in Seattle on Sunday, in the Shield race.

Goals

31' — ATL — Josef Martinez | WATCH
57' — ATL — Josef Martinez | WATCH
87' — MTL — Ignacio Piatti | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: Atlanta continued to show what they’re made of by improving their road record to a blistering 7-2-2. No other team in the league has more than five wins away from home this year. The Impact, meanwhile, will need to regroup after a tough few days that included a Canadian Championship ouster and now a rare home loss in league play.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH
: Martinez’s movement and poise on his first goal showed why he’s such a dominant scorer. Knowing he was offside, he didn’t chase after a
Miguel Almiron
through ball, instead making a run into the box and expertly following the flight of a
Hector Villalba
cross, even after it grazed the head of Impact defender
Rudy Camacho
.

This is the eighth goal Josef Martinez has scored via header this season, more than with either foot from the run of play. He’s 5-foot-6! https://t.co/JZ9maowyau
— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) July 29, 2018

MAN OF THE MATCH
: It’s Martinez, obviously. After Saturday’s brace and
a hat trick last week
, the bigger question might be when he passes
Roy Lassiter
,
Bradley Wright-Phillips
and
Chris Wondolowski
, all of whom currently share the MLS single-season record of 27 goals.

Josef Martinez of @ATLUTD scores his 23rd and 24th goals in a 2-1 win vs Montreal.

He is one of nine players in #MLS history to score as many as 24 goals in a single season.
— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) July 29, 2018

Next Up

Montreal: Saturday, Aug. 4 vs. D.C. United (7:30 pm ET | TVAS - Full TV & Streaming Info)
Atlanta: Saturday, Aug. 4 vs. Toronto FC (4 pm ET | ESPN - Full TV & Streaming Info)

Dave Zeitlin -

@DaveZeitlin