Tag: Josef Martinez

Houston Dynamo stun Inter Miami, sans Messi, in U.S. Open Cup final

Houston bossed a Miami side missing Messi and Alba en route to a trophy

No Lionel Messi? No problem…but only if you’re the Houston Dynamo.

The unfancied club from Texas, who had won just four road matches in all competitions in 2023, claimed a 2-1 victory in the U.S. Open Cup final, knocking off Inter Miami on first half goals from Griffin Dorsey and Amine Bassi.

The most substantial pregame question likely brought more interest to this U.S. Open Cup final than any recent edition: would Messi return for Miami?

Sadly for Miami fans and neutrals, the answer was no. Messi was left out of Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s gameday squad, apparently due to an ongoing battle with a knock relating to what the club has said was a problem with old scar tissue.

Without Messi or Jordi Alba (also out with an injury), Miami looked tepid in the opening exchanges, and paid for it when Houston took a 24th minute lead. Shortly after Drake Callender made a tremendous double save to keep the scores level, Griffin Dorsey overlapped from right back to powerfully finish off yet another superb attacking move from the Dynamo.

Before Miami could get back to its collective feet, the deficit got worse. Nelson Quiñónes, in the midst of an electric first half, was sliced down by DeAndre Yedlin, leaving referee Jon Freemon no choice but to award a penalty.

Bassi stepped up, firing his 33rd minute spot kick down the middle to stun DRV PNK Stadium.

The Dynamo’s control of proceedings was such that Benja Cremaschi’s 42nd minute shot, sliced well over the bar, was Miami’s first shot attempt of any sort.

Miami needed to make a big change, and Martino came through with a double substitution, moving from a 4-3-3 formation to a diamond 4-4-2. One of those newcomers, Josef MartĂ­nez, nearly made the Argentine manager look like a genius, only for his glancing 55th minute header to skip just wide.

The Herons were finally in the game on some level, with Andrew Tarbell finally forced to work with a smart save to deny Cremaschi’s curler on the hour mark.

Houston hung on under pressure though, briefly thinking Quiñónes had broken through with a killer third. The goal was initially given, but Freemon (after a VAR check) reversed the call after replays showed the young Colombian a step offside.

Miami predictably threw the kitchen sink at the Dynamo, but only finally snatched a breakthrough goal in stoppage time. Facundo FarĂ­as was given a split-second to size up a pass, and found MartĂ­nez to give the Herons a sliver of hope.

Miami made an almighty push in the final seconds, with Callender coming forward and attacking a late corner kick for the home side, but Houston ultimately made a superb first hour count to break a five-year trophy drought.

[lawrence-related id=29352,29256,26581]

Josef Martinez very predictably scores in first game against Atlanta United

The thing Atlanta fans knew would happen, happened

If there’s one thing that’s been true in MLS in recent years, it’s that you don’t want to anger Josef MartĂ­nez.

The man who made an angry emoji a personal hallmark was facing Atlanta United, where he became an icon before moving to Inter Miami this winter after a drawn-out departure that included being suspended for flipping over a table full of food.

Any MLS observer would have predicted that MartĂ­nez would get some form of revenge on his old club, and that’s exactly what he did, scoring a brace in a 2-1 Miami victory.

The Venezuela striker wasn’t in Phil Neville’s starting 11, but needed just two minutes to make an impact in his first match against his old club. Seconds after he entered the match, new teammate David Ruiz was fouled by Machop Chol, setting MartĂ­nez up for a spot kick.

With his first touch after coming on, MartĂ­nez powered the penalty past Quentin Westberg, and did not hesitate to celebrate with Leo Campana and everyone else in black and pink.

MartĂ­nez wasn’t settling for just one goal, either. DeAndre Yedlin turned a poor touch into a positive, getting around Andrew Gutman before coolly slipping MartĂ­nez in behind the Atlanta defense. Slipping and sliding as he reached the ball, and with no angle to work with, the three-time MLS Best XI winner somehow glanced the ball past Westberg.

Not only was it a tremendous finish, and eventually the game-winner on the night, but it was also a milestone. MartĂ­nez scored 98 times for Atlanta, and saved goals 99 and 100 for the first time he faced them as an opponent.

That made him an MLS record holder, as no one has ever scored 100 goals in fewer games than MartĂ­nez’s 142.

It’s not clear exactly what MartĂ­nez’s future holds in Miami. He began the season as first-choice but hadn’t scored before Saturday, and over the past two games Campana, Corentin Jean, and NicolĂĄs Stefanelli were preferred by Neville as starters.

However, when Miami next faces Atlanta, it feels like a solid bet that the Herons can count on him to strike again.

[lawrence-related id=19004,18318,17377]

MLS: Atlanta United FC vs. Columbus Crew SC odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Atlanta United FC vs. Columbus Crew SC sports betting odds and lines, with MLS betting picks, tips and best bets.

Atlanta United FC (0 wins, 2 losses, 0 draws) and the Columbus Crew SC (2-0-0) meet in Group E action of the MLS is Back Tournament Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla. Below, we preview the Atlanta-Columbus betting odds and lines, and make our best MLS bets and picks at BetMGM.

Atlanta United FC vs. Columbus Crew SC: Key injuries

Atlanta United FC

  • F Josef Martinez (knee) out
  • M Jake Mulraney (suspension – red card) out
  • F J.J. Williams (suspension – red card) out

Columbus Crew SC

  • M Darlington Nagbe (muscle strain) doubtful
  • D Vito Wormgoor (ankle) out

Place legal sports bets on MLS action in CO, IN, NJ and WV through BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!

Atlanta United FC vs. Columbus Crew SC: MLS odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 9:20 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Columbus Crew SC 2, Atlanta United FC 0

Moneyline (ML)

Atlanta United? More like “Atlanta Disjointed” after this disappointing bubble performance. Atlanta United sits in the basement of Group E, failing to score a goal in its first two games, and is eliminated from Round of 16 contention as a result. Meanwhile, COLUMBUS (+175) has punched its ticket to the knockout stages, so it could elect to power things down a bit. Nagbe is unlikely to feature, as he is nicked and could use the rest. It remains to be seen if Columbus will go with its regular “crew” or if it will play several reserves. Either way, Atlanta is likely to be in a hurry to burst out of this bubble and offer very little in the way of resistance Tuesday, which is par for their course so far.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 2.5 (-106) is the play. Atlanta has looked disinterested and has really been toothless on offense without star striker Martinez in tow. The Crew have bagged six goals and have yet to concede one, while Atlanta has yet to find the back of the net. This has the makings of a 1-0 or 2-0 match.

Want some action in this one? Place an MLS bet with BetMGM today. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=3296]

MLS Picks: Atlanta United FC vs. New York Red Bulls preview, odds and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Atlanta United FC vs. New York Red Bulls sports betting odds and lines, with MLS betting picks, tips and best bets.

Atlanta United FC (2 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws) square off with the New York Red Bulls (1-0-1) Saturday at 8 p.m. ET in each club’s first game of the MLS is Back Tournament in the bubble at the Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. We analyze the Atlanta-New York sports betting odds and lines at BetMGM, while providing MLS betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Atlanta United FC vs. New York Red Bulls: Key injuries

Atlanta

  • F Josef Martinez (knee) out

New York

  • D Aaron Long (hamstring) available
  • GK Ryan Meara (knee) available

Place legal sports bets on MLS action in CO, IN, NJ and WV through BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!

Atlanta United FC vs. New York Red Bulls: MLS odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 10:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Atlanta 2, New York 1

Moneyline (ML)

ATLANTA (+115) was playing better than anyone in the Eastern Conference before the pause in early March. While it’s difficult to glean much from a two-match sample size, Atlanta United consistently finds the back of the net, even without their star striker Martinez.

They were tied for the most goals in the Eastern Conference through two matches, and they’ll do enough against a defensively-challenged Red Bulls (+225) side to come away with the victory.

A winning $10 wager on Atlanta (+115) nets a profit of $11.50. A $10 wager on New York (+225) would fetch a $22.50 profit if the Red Bulls were able to come through with a win.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 2.5 (-154) is a bit on the costly side, but it will be worth it in the end. Both of these clubs were averaging 2.0 goals per game before the pause, and the Red Bulls yielded three markers early on. While these teams will be building up their stamina again as they get into the swing of things, a total of three goals shouldn’t be too difficult to achieve. Also, playing YES (-176) ON BOTH TEAMS WILL SCORE is a good wager, too.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet with BetMGM today. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=3296]