WASHINGTON -- A small, colorful figurine overlooks Gonzalo Martinez's locker at RFK Stadium, tucked away in the corner of an upper shelf. It's an image of Chango, a powerful Orisha deity of West African lore who is linked with thunder and lightning -- he's often depicted wielding a double-headed axe -- and Martinez pays his respects to the icon before every match.
It's an appropriate custom, given that the strapping Colombian has become such an indispensable two-way threat for D.C. United this season. Having established his defensive credentials early on with composed performances in every spot along the United back line, Martinez has grown increasingly comfortable going forward and his enterprise was decisively rewarded with Sunday's thunderous game-winning goal against San Jose.
"He had a great goal for us," said fellow defender Devon McTavish, "putting us on his shoulders a little bit, putting one in the back of the net. He's great going forward for us and he provides a different mentality in terms of outside back and I think we're getting used to playing with him, covering him when he goes on his runs. He's tough to stop when he goes forward -- he's got great feet, he's fast, he's quick."
The athletic Martinez clearly relished his first goal with United, pointing towards his family in the stands before showing off a few dance steps at the corner flag. Its highlight-reel quality earned an MLS Goal of the Week nomination and ensured that from now on, opposing teams will have to be wary of his attacking abilities out of the back.
"Of course -- I'm looking to get some more goals for the good of the club," said the laid-back veteran afterwards. "It's not fun when we're out and we come back with our heads down, so I'm looking to get this institution back on a good track."
Martinez's versatility and professionalism have been revelations throughout what has often been a trying 2008 campaign for the capital club. The well-traveled defender's arrival in D.C. was somewhat overlooked amid United's flood of offseason acquisitions, but he soon proved why big clubs in Italy's Serie A and throughout South America have utilized his services in the past.
A rare blend of speed, skill and savvy helped him adjust quickly to the demands of Major League Soccer while other signings were still finding their feet, and his focused approach has stabilized a new-look D.C. defense that's suffered through more than its share of growing pains.
"It was definitely very hard in the beginning, because we didn't really know each other," said Martinez. "But now that we're starting to get to know each other and how we play, it's all a mental thing. You've got to prepare yourself mentally. I've had a lot of experience and I know that what you really have to do is stay with your mark, stay with your guy, and just keep working on that. Personally, I feel that we need to just keep our concentration and keep our attention on the game."
He's certainly made life a great deal easier for head coach Tom Soehn. The D.C. boss initially used Martinez at center back but soon challenged him with a switch to left back, then played him on the right side in a June 14 match against the New York Red Bulls when Bryan Namoff was suspended. With the exception of an uneven display against Chivas USA last month, Martinez has hardly put a foot wrong.
"He's got pace and he's got experience," said Soehn. "He's a guy that's been through a lot and we utilize his speed well going forward, and in the back. When he needs to make a play, he tends to have that little extra gas to do it. To his credit, we've moved him around a lot and he's adjusted to everywhere we've put him. That's a good quality to have."
It seems that Soehn will be able to depend on Martinez for some time to come. The defender, his wife and their two young children, Santiago Andres and Carol Diana, have settled into life in northern Virginia and despite his strong form this year, he expresses little interest in a return to the international stage, where he represented Colombia on 36 occasions.
"It was an honor to be able to play for my country, obviously. It's a really beautiful thing, and what every player dreams of," said Martinez. "I would not rule anything out but right now I'm at a point in my career where I just want to focus on D.C. I'm going to be 33 soon, so I just really want to focus my career on what I'm doing right now on this team."
Music to a United fan's ears.
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