MARTINEZ LEADS ATLANTA TO RECORD-EQUALING WIN

Expansion club Atlanta United claimed the equal biggest win in MLS history, Josef Martinez leading them to a 7-0 victory over the New England Revolution.


Martinez helped United equal an MLS record in a 7-0 thrashing of New England Revolution, while the Vancouver Whitecaps moved top.

Martinez scored a hat trick at Mercedes-Benz Stadium as Atlanta equaled the largest margin of victory in MLS history.

It took just 73 seconds for Martinez to open the scoring, the Venezuela international finishing powerfully from an angle.

New England was reduced to 10 men in the 16th minute as midfielder Xavier Kouassi was shown a straight red card.

The Revs’ outing would get much worse, Martinez scoring two penalties – both times after handballs – and Antonio Delamea Mlinar seeing red for giving away the second spot kick.

It was 4-0 before halftime as Anton Walkes struck, and Atlanta would net three more in the final 20 minutes.

Kevin Kratz struck with a brilliant 25-yard free-kick, Yamil Asad also scored from outside the area and Hector Villalba sealed the big win.

Yordy Reyna and Erik Hurtado scored first-half goals and Brek Shea netted late on to lift Vancouver above the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders.

It’s been a memorable debut season so far for the MLS expansion club, Atlanta United and now the club has also hit a historic mark.

A hat trick from Josef Martinez along with goals from Anton Walkes, Hector Villalba, Yamil Asad and Kevin Kratz saw Atlanta United easily dispatch the nine-man New England Revolution on Wednesday evening by a lopsided 7-0 victory.

The margin of the victory tied an MLS record, set three times in the past. The LA Galaxy beat Dallas Burn 8-1 in 1998, the Chicago Fire delivered a 7-0 win over the Kansas City Wizards in 2001 and last season saw the New York Red Bulls hand New York City FC an identical 7-0 defeat.