For just the second time all season, Atlanta United are on a win streak.
After Tomas Jácob’s stunning opener was cancelled out in the second half by Anthony Markanich, Tristan Muyumba made it three goals in as many matches with his 78th-minute winner during Atlanta’s 2-1 win at Minnesota United, its first win streak since a road win at Toronto FC and a home victory against CF Montréal.
It won’t erase the team’s dreadful start to the season — Atlanta is still last place in the Eastern Conference and second-to-last in the Supporters’ Shield standings — but it’s another step in the right direction ahead of Sunday’s return home to face last-place Sporting Kansas City at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“It means a lot. It means we care about the situation we are in. And I think no one wants to stay in this position. And we just want to improve. We want to show we are better than that,” Muyumba said after the match.
“Today we showed a lot of character because it’s never easy to come here and to get three points.”
Lucas Hoyos stands tall for Atlanta
Lucas Hoyos delivered arguably his best performance in an Atlanta United kit, finishing the night with three saves. He also made a key tackle on Minnesota’s Owen Gene that started the attack leading to Muyumba’s goal.
Tata Martino pointed to Hoyos’s growing confidence as a trickle-down effect of the team’s collective state of mind over the past few matches.
“As we’re getting results, the team’s confidence is growing and the same for the players. So when I speak about that, it’s not just the new signings that we’ve made, but it’s the players who are already here as well,” Martino said through an interpreter. “So, yes, if we can continue to get results, then I think that will continue to grow.”
Tristan Muyumba’s hot streak continues
In his first 81 MLS appearances, Muyumba scored just three goals. He’s now scored in three straight matches, with Alexey Miranchuk assisting on all three.
“When you play with a player with this quality, you have to trust them,” Muyumba said. “And no matter what, no matter where you are, they can find you and find a way to pass you the ball. So I was pretty confident about it. And yeah, I don’t need to describe Alexey’s talent and how important he is for the team.”
Muyumba has leaned into his role as a leader for the team’s young midfielders, including Adrian Gill, Cooper Sanchez, Jay Fortune, and Will Reilly.
“I just try to talk a lot in the locker room and on the field to give them as much confidence as they can have and tell them no matter what happens, I’ll be there for them. And to always think about the next play, to be themselves,” he said.
“Because at the end of the day, it’s just football and they have to play with confidence.”
Three in a row on Sunday?
Though it won three straight across all competitions this season — the Toronto and Montréal matches, plus a victory over Charlotte FC in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 — Atlanta hasn’t won three straight in league play since 2021. That could change on Sunday against SKC, who drew St. Louis City 1-1 to snap a three-match losing streak while remaining at the bottom of the league table.
Though the playoffs remain a slim possibility, the team continues to focus on improvement on a match-to-match basis.
“We want to show a better face from the team. No matter what happens until the end of the season, we just want to be the best version we can be until the end,” Muyumba said.
“But yeah, we don’t want to go too much into the future. We just want to move game by game. And we have an important game on Sunday. So yeah, let’s stay focused and grounded.”