Emerson Hyndman and Pity Martinez scored late goals as Atlanta United escaped with a 3-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. But the true headline revolved around Josef Martinez, who sustained a leg injury and had to be stretchered off in the 79th minute.
Martinez’s injury overshadowed a win for Atlanta that guaranteed it a first-round home playoff match. It took the lead rather fortuitiously inside of 5 minutes through Justin Meram, whose shot from distance deflected off a San Jose defender and into the net.