Goal of the Week: Josef Martinez Special Edition

It was a fun week in Atlanta United land with the team picking up two wins at home. Josef Martinez scored four times during those two games and yet wasn’t nominated for MLS’s official Goal of the Week award. Which may be for the best since some guy named Zlatan scored a bicycle kick. But that shouldn’t stop us from basking in Josef’s glory.

Let’s take a look at all four of Josef’s goals this week and then you can decide which one you liked the most.

1. Beats two defenders and seals the win vs. Minnesota

Josef’s first goal of the week was a big one that finished off the match against Minnesota who kept themselves in it until the end. On the counter-attack, Josef found himself alone against two Loons defenders and still found a way to get in on goal and smash a great finish into the net.

2. Thank You Ike

This goal was absolutely peak MLS. Josef is 150 yards offside and not giving one damn about the match after he effectively ended it minutes before. Yet, somehow Ike Opara’s intentional header back towards his own goal finds Josef’s feet and negates the offside. Clean in on goal, Josef hesistates to let Opara think he has a chance to atone for his mistake. Nope. He rockets a clinical finish past the goalkeeper and sends Opara into a rage. I love it.

3. No Pity for Chicago

While the previous two goals were all about Josef going by himself and showing his class, this one required some help from a couple of his teammates. Pity Martinez and Franco Escobar pull off a stunning one-two, then Pity slots in a perfectly weighted pass for Josef to finish off. Just beautiful stuff all around.

4. Put da team on his back doe

Last but certainly not least is Josef fathering some Chicago defender and sending him into witness protection. After embarrassing one, he holds off a challenge from another and makes no mistake with the finish. So much determination doe.

He may have not been nominated for GOTW, he is up for MLS Player of the Week. You can stuff the Twitter ballots here.

Which goal was your favorite? (Poll will probably only show up on desktop. Comment if you’re on mobile.)