CF Montreal secured a 2-1 victory over Atlanta United on Saturday, thanks to two goals from star striker Josef Martinez.
The game, which took place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, was a highly anticipated matchup between two Eastern Conference rivals.
Martinez, who has been in top form this season, wasted no time in making his mark on the game. In the 11th minute, he received a pass from teammate Djordje Mihailovic and fired a powerful shot into the back of the net, giving CF Montreal an early lead.
Atlanta United, however, did not back down and continued to put pressure on CF Montreal’s defense. In the 28th minute, they were rewarded with an equalizer from forward Erik Lopez.
The game remained tied until the 76th minute when Martinez once again found the back of the net, this time with a header off a cross from Zachary Brault-Guillard. This goal proved to be the game-winner, securing CF Montreal’s fourth consecutive victory.
Despite the loss, Atlanta United put up a strong fight, outshooting CF Montreal 17-9 and dominating possession with 62%. However, CF Montreal’s defense, led by goalkeeper James Pantemis, held strong and secured the crucial three points.
This win puts CF Montreal in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings, just one point behind third-place Orlando City. They will look to continue their winning streak when they face off against the New York Red Bulls next week.
Meanwhile, Atlanta United will have a chance to bounce back when they take on the Philadelphia Union in their next match.
Overall, it was an exciting and hard-fought game between two talented teams, but it was CF Montreal who came out on top thanks to the clinical finishing of Josef Martinez.
