FOOTBALL

CONCACAF Champions League Review: Rampant Atlanta give De Boer first win

Sacha Pisani 01/03/2019 | 05:11 MYT
Frank de Boer celebrated his first competitive victory as Atlanta United boss after the MLS holders overturned a first-leg deficit to advance to the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals.

Atlanta cruised to a 4-0 rout of Herediano – inspired by Josef Martinez's brace at home to the Costa Rican visitors on Thursday – and 5-3 aggregate triumph.

De Boer's competitive bow had ended in a 3-1 loss away to Herediano last week but the former Crystal Palace and Inter boss – a replacement for championship winner Gerardo Martino – earned his maiden victory in charge.

Martinez, who was the leading goalscorer in MLS last season, broke the deadlock after just 47 seconds from the edge of the six-yard box.

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Atlanta drew level on aggregate but moved ahead on away goals when Julian Gressel found the back of the net in the ninth minute.

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Venezuelan star Martinez netted his second with a 63rd-minute tap-in before Leandro Gonzalez Pirez sealed the triumph with seven minutes remaining.

Atlanta will face Mexican side Monterrey for a spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Sporting Kansas City defeated 10-man Toluca 2-0 for a 5-0 aggregate win and a quarter-final showdown against Independiente.

#Frank de Boer #football #Josef Martínez #Toluca #Atlanta #Sporting KC #CONCACAF Champions League #Herediano
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