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How Atlanta United’s internationals fared during the break

ATLANTA — Six Atlanta United players earned national team call-ups for the March FIFA international window. Gonzalo “Pity” Martínez, Josef Martínez and Héctor “Tito” Villalba joined the Argentina, Venezuela and Paraguay senior squads, respectively. Ezequiel Barco departed for the Argentina under-20 team. Andrew Carleton appeared with the United States U-20s, and Miles Robinson made his debut with the U.S. U-23 side. Here’s how the globetrotting Five Stripes fared during their time away from Atlanta.

The 2 Martínezes

Argentina and Venezuela met at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, home of La Liga’s Atlético Madrid, in what was the main event of the window for Atlanta United partisans. Pity Martínez made the starting lineup (alongside Lionel Messi) for La Albiceleste, while Josef Martínez came off the bench in the second half for La Vinotinto.

Josef Martínez enjoyed the better day, however. Venezuela pulled off a shocking 3-1 win in the March 22 friendly, and Josef scored the final goal with his trademark penalty stroke.

El Pity exited at halftime with a muscle injury and did not feature in Argentina’s friendly at Morocco, a drab 1-0 victory, Tuesday. There’s no word yet on the severity of the injury.

Josef Martínez started Monday’s friendly at Catalunya, but he did not score in 48 minutes. Catalunya won 2-1.

Tito Villalba

Villalba had the pleasure of reuniting with his former Atlanta teammate Miguel Almirón, who now stars for Newcastle United in the English Premier League.

The speedy winger did not play in Paraguay’s 1-0 friendly loss to Peru at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., March 22. In another reunion, he started and played 85 minutes in the 4-2 defeat to Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s Mexico Tuesday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. It was a bad night all around for Paraguay. La Albirroja went behind 3-0 in the first 24 minutes. Villalba did not score or provide an assist, though he did hit one dangerous shot from distance.

(Almirón entered in the 56th minute and received a straight red card seven minutes later for a horrific tackle from behind on Mexico midfielder José Juan Vázquez, who was lucky not to come out of the challenge with a broken leg or torn ligaments.)

Ezequiel Barco

Barco started Argentina’s U-20 1-0 friendly win against Japan on March 22 and played a part in the only scoring of the day.

In the first half, after a good run behind the defense, Barco lost possession in the Japan penalty area, but he was rewarded with a comical own goal. Barco came on as a substitute in Argentina’s 5-0 decimation of Saudi Arabia on Monday but did not contribute a goal or an assist. 

Andrew Carleton

Carleton did not start either of the U.S. U-20 friendlies in Spain, but he made the most of his substitute appearances.

In a 2-2 draw against France, he subbed on to start the second half and was involved in the attack that led to the equalizing goal in stoppage time. Against Japan on Monday, Carleton again entered in the 46th minute and scored the game’s opening goal in the 50th. The U.S. went on to win, 2-1.

America Soccer Now’s Brian Sciaretta said the Powder Springs, Ga., native has boosted his chances of making the final U.S. roster for this summer’s U-20 World Cup in Poland.

https://twitter.com/BrianSciaretta/status/1110294397160210433

Miles Robinson

Returning to the U.S. youth national team system after nearly three years away, Atlanta’s breakout star at centerback had a relatively uneventful trip to Spain.

Robinson came off the bench in the U-23s 2-0 loss against Egypt on March 22. He started against the Netherlands on Sunday, helping the U.S. keep a clean sheet in a goalless draw.