Josef Martinez voted MLS Player of the Week

Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for the 29th week of the 2019 MLS season. 

Martinez recorded a brace in Atlanta’s 2-0 victory over FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium on Wednesday, extending his MLS record scoring streak to 15 consecutive league matches. Martinez has scored 26 goals, third most in MLS, along with two assists this season. Atlanta sits second in the Eastern Conference with 54 points (17-11-3 overall record) and has secured a spot in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.

With the match scoreless in the second half, Martinez gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute. Pity Martínez sent a pass down the field to free up the Venezuelan from defenders, as Josef Martinez collected the ball, dribbled into the box and finished with a right-footed shot past the Cincinnati goalkeeper (watch goal).

Atlanta doubled its lead in the 65th minute when Martinez dazzled with an incredible display of skill. Martinez ditched a defender with a right-footed backheel flick over his head just outside the box, then fooled two more defenders in the box with a pair of cutbacks before unleashing a powerful left-footed shot into the left corner of goal (watch goal).

The Venezuelan striker scored 21 goals during the scoring steak, which ended when Martinez left Saturday’s 3-1 win against San Jose with an injury in the 79th minute. It ended as the fifth-longest recorded streak in world soccer history.

Atlanta United faces New York City FC on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium in a matchup of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference standings (7 p.m. ET, FOX Sports South / ESPN+ / TSN5), before playing the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo on Sunday (5 p.m. ET, FOX Sports South/ ESPN+ / TVA Sports / TSN5). 

The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.