Atlanta United prevailed over Columbus Crew 4-2 in game two in MLS Cup playoffs, with midfielder Tristan Muyumba leading by example with a stellar performance in the middle of the park.
Ever since Muyumba has joined the Five Stripes' midfield ranks, he's become nearly undroppable for head coach Gonzalo Pineda. He was everywhere in game two at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, putting a foot in to win the ball back for his team while weaving in and out of one of the league's best midfield duos in Darlington Nagbe and Aidan Morris.
"[Tristan] had an outstanding game in a game when we were playing against one of the best midfields in the league," Pineda said after the match. "I think Aidan Morris and Nagbe are one of the best pairs in the league at the moment, and today, what [the midfield] did, whether it was [Jay Fortune] and Muyumba, or [Matheus] Rossetto and Muyumba, it was amazing."
Playing the full 90 for Atlanta, Muyumba won 10 duels, made six passes into the final third, had three successful dribbles out of four attempts as well as five recoveries - all while committing zero fouls on the night and being dribbled past just once.
"Our midfield was really, really solid, and Tristan probably shined a little bit more just because we gave him a more free-floating roll so he could press, and because of that he was in higher areas at some moments. But, credit to him because it is not easy to tweak what we tweaked in the midfield, going to the other side, actually playing a little more on the left today, and he did amazing," said Pineda.
Pineda made it clear that while Muyumba put on a clinic in the midfield, several players contributed to a nearly flawless outing to propel their team to victory.
"Maybe that helped him a little bit to connect with some other players, but I thought it was a very complete game from many players, but especially that pair in the midfield was very good."
Atlanta face off with the Crew for the final time in 2023 as game three is set for November 12 at Lower.com Field, with the winner advancing to take on Orlando City in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Sign up now for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV to watch all the action from the 2023 Major League Soccer season. Click here to subscribe!
This article was originally published on 90min as Gonzalo Pineda hails 'outstanding' Tristan Muyumba in game two win over Columbus Crew.
