Pity Martinez left out of Atlanta United starting XI in Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoff opener

20 Oct 2019

MLSsoccer.com

Pity Martinez left out of Atlanta United starting XI in Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoff opener

It has been an up-and-down first season in Atlanta for Pity Martinez. That theme continued into the postseason. The 2018 South American Footballer of the Year and most expensive acquisition in MLS history had five goals and nine assists in his first seaso

USA Today Images

October 19, 201912:07PM EDT

It has been an up-and-down first season in Atlanta for Pity Martinez. That theme continued into the postseason.

The 2018 South American Footballer of the Year and most expensive acquisition in MLS historyhad five goals and nine assists in his first season with the Five Stripes and traded barbs with head coach Frank de Boer earlier this season. More recently, he was dropped from De Boer's starting XI on Decision Day presented by AT&T and did not appear off the bench.

On Saturday, in Atlanta's 1-0 win over the New England Revolutionin the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, Martinez did not get off the benchagain. De Boer opted forEzequiel Barco in the starting lineup afterthe 20-year-old started and played 63 minutes on Decision Day. It was Barco's 11th start of the season.

"I always put the team in what — in my point of view and in good conversation with my staff — which team can have the most chance to win,” said De Boer earlier this week. “If it's with both [Barco and Pity] then it's with both. If it's with one of them, it's with one of them. I will choose what I think is the best chance that we can win the game. It doesn't always mean you put your best players on the pitch, but in my point of view, you put your best team on the pitch.”

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Joining Pity on the bench wasEric Remedi, who was on the benchfor the third straight match. On the backline, Michael Parkhurst replaced Miles Robinson, who suffered a hamstring injury while on international duty with the US men's national team. Parkhurst would leave the match in stoppage time due to a shoulder injury.

#ATLUTD's Starting XI vs @NERevolution pic.twitter.com/hzl5sukfNQ
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) October 19, 2019

On the other side, Scott Caldwell replaced Luis Caicedo in central midfield for the Revolution. Caicedo started 22 of the Revs' last 24 matches while Caldwell has played 90 minutes just once since May 4.

Today's #NERevs Starting XI#RaiseYourColors // #MLSCupPlayoffs#ATLvNE pic.twitter.com/kK94IHJt8o
— X- New England Revolution (@NERevolution) October 19, 2019

WHO YA GOT? Make your playoff picks with the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge. It free to play and you'll have a ton of fun competing against your friends, family, and colleagues. Plus you could win great prizes!

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