Atlanta United traveled up to the hinterlands of the north to take on Minnesota United in a battle between the two 2017 newcomers. Atlanta, stepping off a comeback win vs Red Bulls, needed this match to go their way to carry forward the momentum and continue clawing their way from the bottom of the barrel. It was a far cry from the 6 goal trouncing the Five Stripes gave Minnesota back in the early years, but they did score first!
And then gave up the equalizer.
AND THEN TRISTAN MUYUMBA SAID “WONDERWALL IS THE WORST SONG EVER, OASIS WHO?” and promptly kept Minnesota’s fans from playing said worst song ever, as he put Atlanta United’s attack on his back for the third week in a row. Here are the final whistle thoughts from Allianz Stadium Field!
Away matches
Unfortunately, Atlanta United’s past six years have encompassed one of the worst away records in the game, so when they went up a goal early in this match, there was the faintest glimmer of hope. Of course, they also just blew a two goal lead against Philadelphia on the road a few weeks ago, so maybe that glimmer of hope was just a drop of change from one of the DP’s pockets.
Tristan Muyumba, on the other hand, was having none of that trash talk. He decided to continue a generational run amongst Atlanta United central midfielders who have scored bangers, putting Atlanta on top for the second time in the match after Tomas Jacob opened the scoring in the first half. What ensued would be a frantic final few minutes as the Five Stripes held on to an away win, and their second win in a row. Both of those phrases have been uttered rarely over the past few years, but if there was ever a time for Atlanta to vanquish their away match demon, this was it. Suddenly, the Five Stripes have six points in two matches, and at the time of this writing, are only six points out of the playoffs.
Such is Major League Soccer.
Striker who?
Tristan Muyumba told me in Dallas after a preseason match that he was most comfortable playing as a number 8. Unfortunately, over the past year and a half, he’s been forced to play mostly as defensive midfielder. It’s my humble opinion – and one I’ll shout from the rooftops – that any team with a goal dangerous 8 is instantly a competitive team, because the number 8 is always the one who creates numerical superiority in and around the top of the box. For Muyumba to score three goals in three matches is a wild stat, similar to the insane assist run Pedro Amador went on shortly after he arrived.
But you take it where you can get it, and at minimum Muyumba needs to be congratulated for keeping this team afloat during a terribly tumultuous time where it seems like every DP striker rumor is falling apart. Someone has to take their chances, and it just happens to be a guy who looks to be giving everything he has to the club.
Let us know down below what you thought of the match!
No Oasis slander please.
A dangerous 8 is, IMO, more important than any striker, winger or 10 because they can be huge difference makers throughout a game. When he does his job well, most of the time others are the ones getting recognition but I see you 8…I see you.
Good on Muyumba for coming into form when we needed him. I like what I saw in this game, though I do wish we could be better with our pass and connections. they still look a bit off, even Muyumba’s goal was a bit sketchy at first.
Muyumba’s overall performances in the last two matches haven’t been amazing, but the goal scoring has been on point and much needed. I do like him much better further up the field. I know it’s not his fault he was pressed into duty as a 6, but he’s really not well-suited for it. He takes too many risks and plays too many nonchalant passes that turn into awful turnovers (he even did it last night, leaving one hanging around the top of the 18, which I think Stian muscled in to clean up). I’ve never questioned his effort or energy, though. His effort is always there, so maybe we’ve found something that kind of works for now.
Overall, I think the team is doing a better job playing the ball quickly in transition and attack. Much less bogging down to meticulously pick out passes and allowing the defense to set or regain their balance. Miggy deserves a lot of credit as he’s playing the ball faster and trusting teammates instead of trying to take on an entire defense on his own. He doesn’t have the pace to quite do that anymore (but still more than fast enough to be effective as a CAM), nor does he have elite technical skill (though he’s clearly polished some of that at NUFC). I think Fafa also deserves a ton of credit. He’s doing the work of a striker, but he’s also floating around to find space and using his dribbling and passing skill to help open things up. It’s just nice to see us play competent soccer again.
Also, tip of the cap to Hoyos for pulling our asses out of the fire on more than one occasion last night. He had reflex saves of a man 10 years younger.
Ya’ll are talking Muyumbua up, which is 100% deserved, but I think that Jacob and Hoyos deserve a shout. I mean, Jacob scored a goal of course which is probably going to win goal of the week (two times in a row for us), but his overall play was great too. Hoyos also kept us in the game like oh my goodness. I’m really tired rn but mann this team has some players who are balling rn. GN VAMOS ATLANTA
Add Gill to that list. Kid was really solid again in the 6 role. His positioning is fantastic. Made multiple interceptions last night from small positioning adjustments and had a few Nagbe-esque escapes from pressure. Only 2 games, but Im not sure you remove him from the lineup right now.