Despite playing in only his second game with Atlanta United, Tristan Muyumba played an important role in helping the team earn its seventh shutout this season in Sunday’s 2-0 victory at Seattle.
Muyumba’s ability to control the pace of the game when he was on the ball, his ability to solve Seattle’s pressing with his passing and dribbling, and his defensive work when Seattle had the ball, contributed to the team holding an opponent scoreless for the first time in its past five matches.
“That’s my quality,” he said Tuesday. “So I like to control the game to create space for my teammates. So I work for the team and my teammates.”
Several times, Atlanta United would create a turnover and find Muyumba, and he would get the ball moving forward. The best example came in the first half when he surprisingly flicked a pass over Seattle’s midfielders to Thiago Almada, who started a counterattack. Muyumba said he learned how to play in and use space when he was younger in Monaco’s academy. He said he has modeled his game on players such as Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, who influences matches with the slightest of touches or movements.
As evidence of his importance, Muyumba tied Brooks Lennon for the team lead in chances created (2), tied Giorgos Giakoumakis in tackles (3) and Lennon for successful dribbles (2).
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan said there were moments in the Seattle game when its players were turning and yelling at each other about pressing, only to see Atlanta United play through it.
“His ability to to elude pressure, his ability to see the next pass, see the next pass forward, I think is huge for us,” Guzan said. “People talk about breaking lines and these sorts of things, but his ability to keep the ball under pressure, whether that’s him dribbling out of pressure, whether that’s him finding the next pass forward, that’s a big, big help for us.”
Both Muyumba and Atlanta United’s defense can improve. Muyumba said he’s still not 100% physically fit. He hopes to reach that by Saturday’s match against Nashville at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Guzan said Atlanta United “dodged bullets” in the second half against Seattle. Guzan said it was a combination of Seattle’s good play and mistakes, typically turnovers, by Atlanta United when it tried to play through Seattle’s press.
“We can adjust some little details,” Muyumba said. “But it’s good. That was a good start.”
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1
April 15 Atlanta United 2, Toronto FC 2
April 23 Atlanta United 2, Chicago 1
April 29 Nashville SC 3, Atlanta United 1
May 6 Inter Miami CF 2, Atlanta United 1
May 13 Charlotte 3, Atlanta United 1
May 17 Atlanta United 4, Colorado 0
May 20 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 3
May 27 Atlanta United 1, Orlando 1
May 31 Atlanta United 3, New England 3
June 7 Atlanta United 0, LAFC 0
June 10 Atlanta United 3, D.C. United 1
June 21 Atlanta United 2, New York City 2
June 24 New York Red Bulls 4, Atlanta United 0
July 2 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 0
July 8 Atlanta United 1, Montreal 0
July 12 New England 2, Atlanta United 1
July 15 Orlando City 2, Atlanta United 1
July 25 Miami 4, Atlanta United 0 in Leagues Cup
July 29 Cruz Azul 1 (5), Atlanta United (4) 1 in Leagues Cup
Aug. 20 Atlanta United 2, Seattle 0
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 5 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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