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ATLANTA (June 2, 2018) — Atlanta United defeated Philadelphia Union 3-1 Saturday night in front of 45,140 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Josef Martinez picked up his fifth career hat trick, tying an all-time MLS record despite playing in only 34 matches. Martinez also added to his league-leading 2018 goal tally with 12, as Atlanta rolled Philadelphia behind a club-record 31 shot attempts – the fifth most all-time for a single-game in MLS history. With the win, Atlanta remains on top of the league table with 29 points.
Martinez opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 21st minute after a bizarre series of events that saw two Union players sent off. Martinez was awarded the penalty after he was taken down in the box by Auston Trusty. In the lead-up to his attempt, Alejandro Bedoya was issued a second yellow card for dissent. Immediately after card was issued, Haris Medunjanin was issued back-to-back yellow cards while arguing with referee Sorin Stoica.
Martinez doubled the lead in the 49th minute, hammering home a cross from Miguel Almirón. Halftime substitute Mikey Ambrose played Almirón on with a through ball toward the end line, then Almirón squared a ball perfectly in the middle of the six-yard box that Martinez easily finished. Philadelphia answered just a few minutes later from Fafa Picault. Atlanta originally cleared a free kick attempt from the right wing, but the second ball went to Warren Creavalle, who played a ball over the top that ultimately got to Picault.
Atlanta put the game out of reach when Martinez finished his hat trick in the 83rd minute. The penalty was awarded after video review overturned a call on the field, ruling Fabinho on a hand ball inside of the box. Martinez blistered his ensuing attempt into the upper-left corner, leaving Andre Blake little chance to make a save.
Atlanta United (9-3-2, 29 points) returns to action against Charleston Battery on Wednesday, June 6 in the Fourth Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The team returns to MLS action against New York City FC on Saturday, June 9 (12:30 p.m., FOX Sports Southeast).
MATCH RESOURCES
LINE SCORE
Atlanta United 3, Philadelphia Union 1
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
STATS
Shots: 31-5 Atlanta
Shots on Target: 10-1 Atlanta
Corner kicks: 6-3 Atlanta
Fouls committed: 10-9 Philadelphia
Saves: 6-0 Philadelphia
Clearances: 15-8 Philadelphia
Offside: 3-1 Atlanta
Possession: 75-25 Atlanta
Passing Accuracy: 94-70 Atlanta
SCORING SUMMARY
ATL – Josef Martinez (penalty) 21’ [HIGHLIGHT]
ATL – Josef Martinez (Miguel Almirón, Mikey Ambrose) 49’ [HIGHLIGHT]
PHI – Fafa Picault (Warren Creavalle) 52’ [HIGHLIGHT]
ATL – Josef Martinez (penalty) 83’ [HIGHLIGHT]
DISCIPINARY SUMMARY
PHI – Alejandro Bedoya (yellow) 11’
PHI – Alejandro Bedoya (second yellow) 19’
PHI – Haris Medunjanin (yellow) 19’
PHI – Haris Medunjanin (second yellow) 19’
PHI – Fafa Picault (yellow) 28’
ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP
Brad Guzan; Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Michael Parkhurst ©, Franco Escobar; Chris McCann (Mikey Ambrose – 46’), Jeff Larentowicz, Darlington Nagbe, Julian Gressel; Josef Martinez (Romario Williams – 84’), Miguel Almirón, Ezequiel Barco (Brandon Vazquez – 76’)
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Sal Zizzo, Kevin Kratz, Andrew Carleton.
PHILADELPHIA UNION STARTING LINEUP
Andre Blake; Fabinho, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Raymon Gaddis; Haris Medunjanin, Alejando Bedoya ©; Fafa Picault, Borek Dockal (Warren Creavalle – 23’), Marcus Epps (Ilsinho – 57’), C.J. Sapong (Cory Burke – 66’)
Substitutes not used: John McCarthy, Keegan Rosenberry, Jack Elliott, David Accam.
ATTENDANCE
45,140
OFFICIALS
Sorin Stoica (referee), Jeff Hosking (assistant), Jonathan Johnson (assistant), Joseph Dickerson (fourth), Kevin Terry, Jr. (VAR).
TEAM NOTES
- Jeff Larentowicz started his 352nd career MLS game, good for fifth place all-time in league history by a field player.
- Larentowicz also appeared in his 371st career game, which is now tied for fifth place all-time in league history by a field player with Brian Carroll.
- It was the fifth-career hat-trick for Martinez, trying Stern John and Diego Serna for the league’s all-time record.
- Martinez was the second-fastest in league history to reach 30 career goals (Mamadou Diallo).
- The 31 shot attempts were a club record. The previous high was 26 against D.C. United (April 30, 2017). The season high was 21 vs. Vancouver (March 17).
- That also tied the fifth-most shot attempts by a team in a single-game in league history. The New York Red Bulls own the record (38), dating back to when they were the MetroStars. (June 3, 1998 vs. Tampa Bay).
- Almirón and Martinez led the team with seven shot attempts.
- Almirón had a game-high eight chances created. He also completed a game-high 97.6 percent of passes.
