Josef Martinez scores first goal since return from injury

After a long and at times excruciating wait, Josef Martinez has finally gotten his name back on the score sheet for the first time since tearing his ACL just over 14 months ago.

Obviously this is great to see, but its even more impressive to see the quality of the strike itself — turning onto his weaker left foot and clinically finishing to the far post. His goal is the first time he’s scored in all competitions in 440 days, where he last found the net against FC Motagua in Concacaf Champions League in 2019. He last scored in MLS 564 days ago in the team’s Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff game against the New England Revolution on October 6, 2019.

Martinez has been looking better and better in recent weeks, seemingly gaining more confidence in his surgically repaired knee while improving his fitness. Knock on wood he has no setbacks from here. If not, this goal could be the tailwind he needs for himself and the team to regain their place as one of MLS’s most potent attacking sides.