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Historic Martinez hat trick lifts Atlanta over Rooney’s DC United
LOS ANGELES, July 22, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Josef Martinez produced his Major
League Soccer-record sixth career hat trick Saturday to lead Atlanta United
to a 3-1 victory over Wayne Rooney and DC United.
With a league-leading 22 goals in 22 appearances this season, Venezuelan-
born Martinez is on pace to break the MLS season scoring record of 27 goals
held by Roy Lassiter, Chris Woolskins and Bradley Wright-Phillips.
In a clash between league-leaders Atlanta and a DC United team languishing
in last place in the Eastern Conference, it was visiting DC that struck
first.
A one-touch pass from Rooney found Paul Arriola in flight. Arriola’s pass
freed Zoltai Stoeber and the Hungarian fired past Atlanta keeper Brad Uzan
for a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute.
Martinez knotted the score at 1-1 in the 30th, heading home Hector
Villalba’s cross from close range.
Martinez put Atlanta ahead in the 54th minute, heading home a deflected
cross at the far post.
He completed his hat trick on a counter attack after Miguel Palmiro’s
through ball was blocked but fell favourably Martinez who easily rounded DC
goalkeeper David Ousted to score in the 73Rd.
Martinez broke the MLS record for career hat tricks he had shared with
Stern John and Diego Seena. John played for Columbus in the late 1990s and
Seena played for the now defunct Miami Fusion.
Martinez’s exploit meant Atlanta spoiled former England star Wayne Rooney’s
first start for his new club DC United.
The 32-year-old Rooney, England’s all-time leading goal scorer, was the
centre of attention as he came on as a substitute in his DC United debut last
weekend, playing a role in two goals from Arriola as DC beat Vancouver 3-1.
After gaining the starting nod from manager Ben Olson, Rooney was replaced
by Darren Mattocks after a relatively quiet 66 minutes.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0815 hrs