D.C. United loses 3-1 in Historic Performance by Josef Martinez.
The Black-and-Red were defeated by Atlanta United FC 3-1 in front of another sold out crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Josef Martinez, Atlanta’s powerful striker, broke the record for the most hat tricks by a single player in MLS, and he did it in a span of two seasons with the club. He got his 20, 21, and 22 goals of the season. With this appearance, he gets his sixth hat trick in MLS. Atlanta United goes up another three points in the standings.
The goal scoring started off when Zoltan Stieber got one past Atlanta keeper Brad Guzan in the 8′. The lead would last 22 minutes, before Josef Martinez got his first goal past David Ousted. The game would remain level until Martinez scored his second goal in the 54′. Wayne Rooney got a yellow card near the 50th minute for fouling Leandro Gonzalez Pirez. Then in the 73′, Josef Martinez broke the record, scoring his third goal and getting his sixth hat trick on a break away that he got past David Ousted and shot into the open net.
D.C. United takes on the New York Red Bulls in an Atlantic Cup match at home in their next game, on July 25.
