![]() Martinez doesn’t have a goal in any of his 14 career caps for Venezuela, the latest coming last week. It has become a running joke around the locker room as to when Martinez was finally going to break through – Curtin jokingly congratulated him on going “one-for-286” on shots – and his shot off the post in Chicago in May was the nearest miss yet, an indication that the breakthrough might be nearing. Martinez is known to take potshots from deep, sometimes out of desperation or boredom, occasionally with a strategic view of keeping a defense honest. If he was going to score a goal ever, Curtin knew, it would probably be a goal like Wednesday’s. He also occupies a position where little offense is expected, and his 11 career assists are already above-average return, as an exemplary long-distance passer. Martinez does so much for the Union that he can be elite without scoring. As they chased an equalizer in the 90th minute, a clearance of a low-percentage Kai Wagner cross got headed out of the box. The Union (9-5-4, 31 points) trailed 13 minutes in and were down two most of the second half. Martinez’s goal was outrageous, shades of Brazilian free kick artisan Roberto Carlos, whom Curtin said was in the building at Exploria Stadium. But to do it in a game, that late in a game, is something that’s really special.” ![]() “It’s the kind of shot you dream of, that you probably hit in your backyard or the practice field once in a while. What can you say?” manager Jim Curtin said. ![]() From distance Wednesday, fizzling through the Orlando night, to earn the Union a 2-2 road draw – the El Brujo banger will live long in Union fans’ memory. If you’re going to be the active MLS leader in most shot attempts without scoring, there wasn’t a better way for Martinez to open his account. On his 86th career shot in MLS, his 96th including playoffs, some 7,000 minutes deep into his Union tenure, Jose Martinez scored a goal. ![]()
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