Diego Martinez had just three league appearances in the first six months of the Major League Soccer season.
But after a strong 90-minute performance in a friendly against Necaxa last Friday, the New York City FC outside back came off the bench and had a solid second half in Sunday’s 3-1 loss to D.C. United at RFK Stadium.
Martinez had an assist in his previous appearance – a 5-1 win over the Colorado Rapids at Yankee Stadium on July 30.
On Sunday, he replaced an injured Ronald Matarrita at halftime and nearly struck for his first NYCFC goal when he put a blast on frame from just outside the 18-yard box in the 55th minute only to be denied by Bill Hamid.