ATLANTA, GEORGIA—Injury woes continue to hit Atlanta United as they hope for another road win on Sunday. On Wednesday, United announced that goalkeeper Dylan Castanheira suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left leg during training today. The goalkeeper will have surgery Thursday, and his recovery will dictate his return.
Earlier, Venezuelan striker Josef Martinez and central midfielder Osvaldo “Ozzie” Alonso are also set to miss some games for United due to injuries. Alonso suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in Atlanta United’s 1-0 win over D.C. United on Saturday.
Sources said the absence of Alonso is a huge challenge for the team since they already lost a crucial central midfielder last season in Emerson Hyndman; Hyndman is expected to return to action at some point this season and has resumed training with the team.
Alonzo, 36, had played every minute for Atlanta outside of one game, where he was withheld until his injury Saturday. According to reports, Venezuelan star striker Josef Martinez could miss United’s game against Charlotte FC on April 10 at Bank of America Stadium due to right knee discomfort. On Monday, United announced that Martinez had traveled to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) for a reexamination of his right knee after expressing recent discomfort.
Martinez suffered the supposed injury in the team’s 1-0 road win against D.C. United 1-0 at Audi Field last April 2. In stoppage time, the game-winning goal from Marcelino Moreno came off a corner kick delivered by defender Brooks Lennon. Moreno’s header trickled past the keeper for his first season goal, and it was also Lennon’s first assist of 2022.
United head coach Gonzalo Pineda is pleased with their win and the tenacity his team played in the game. It says a lot about a team that doesn’t give up,” Pineda said. “Last year, I remember we gave up a lot of points at the end of games, and now we’re doing the complete opposite. And that for me is a massive achievement,” Pineda added.
Moreno, for his part, is thrilled with their road win and his winning goal. “I think we’re a team that we train as we play,” Moreno said. “We’re always giving 100%, giving maximum effort to do our best. And I think you saw in the last game at home when we’re able to come back. And so, we’re a group that’s always fighting,” Moreno added.