The only two players to be selected to the MLS Best XI each of the past two season, Miguel Almirón and Josef Martinez gave us plenty to cheer about in the regular season –– and almost always topped it off with their signature fusion celebration. To celebrate the honor, we looked back and picked out our favorite Josef/Miguel moments of the regular season:
7. Josef to Miguel vs Colorado
Atlanta United's attack was just too much for the Rapids in Denver, and Josef Martinez and Miguel Almirón were a big reason why. Martinez would have been forgiven for taking a shot himself, but he turns provider and sets up his teammate for the goal that all but ended the match.
6. Miggy to Josef vs Philly
When Philly went down with two red cards, Atlanta United made them pay. Almirón expertly finds the space on the right wing and sends in an unbelievable cross threaded between the defender and the outstretched goalkeeper, and Josef hardly has to look to finish it off.
5. Josef to Miggy vs Orlando City
Miggy and Josef always step up against the rivals to the South, and this one turned a winning night into a blowout. Josef Martinez's through ball behind the defense was inch-perfect, and Miguel's speed was unstoppable, slipping it under Joe Bendik and in in front of the Atlanta United Supporters' Stand.
4. Miggy to Josef vs Vancouver
When Josef scores, he scores in bunches –– and he had plenty of time to think about this third strike of the night. Miguel Almirón burst into space and takes a hard hit. But he sets Josef Martinez free behind the defense and Venezuelan sending the 'keeper the wrong way and slamming it inside the near post.
3. Josef to Miggy (to Tito) in Philadelphia
This goal ended on the toe of Tito Villalba, but it's a goal worth bending the rules to include in this article. One of the smoothest passing moves you'll ever see in Major League Soccer, with Almirón and Martinez combining perfectly to break through the line. But the Paraguayan's first-time pass to Tito Villalba is what makes this one special, slicing through the defense to set up the tap-in goal.
2. Josef to Miggy vs Columbus
Miguel is supposed to be the passer and Josef the finisher, right? It was a role reversal for this dagger of a goal against the Columbus Crew, with Josef Martinez showing poise and touch to lay the ball off to his teammate streaking up the middle. And our #10 was ruthless, curling an unstoppable first-time shot inside the far post.
1. Miggy to Josef vs San Jose
The exclamation point on what was already a bizarre, spectacular, exhilarating night. Miguel Almirón burst down the wing and Josef Martinez loses his marker perfectly. And with nearly the last kick of the night, Miggy dropped a perfect ball onto the forehead of Martinez, who snapped the ball down clinically inside the near post. An unforgettable ending to an unforgettable match.
That is just the regular season. With postseason soccer still to play, there may still be a late contender for best Fusion moment of the season.
