A center back, Ayala was mostly used as a defensive midfielder in the match. He did a good job of shielding Austin’s backline and stood out for his positioning, which consistently kept him near the action. Ayala also showed a strong game in possession, working well in tight spaces, delivering intelligent first-time passes, and moving very well off the ball, at times dropping between the center backs and, on other occasions, working between the lines. He moved to center back in the final portion of the second half and used his passing ability to help Austin circulate the ball as they looked for space.

A very technical and intelligent center back, Ayala is a key piece in Austin’s defensive system. He thrives with his positioning and his ability to read plays, and is very difficult to beat in 1v1 duels because of his mobility and his patience to wait for the right moment to tackle his opponent. Ayala does very well in the air, even scoring goals off headers, but is also very mobile, defending well in space and quickly stepping up to cover his teammates when needed. His most defining skill is, perhaps, his ability to initiate the team’s buildup. Austin typically drop to a back three when they have the ball, placing Ayala in the middle, and he benefits from the setup to find his teammates with accurate passes out of the backline, even when under pressure.

A center back, Ayala anchors Austin FC ‘s backline, displaying incredible quality and efficiency on both sides of the ball. He can play in the center of a back three or as a left-sided center back and is very difficult to beat, offering excellent protection for the team’s penalty box. Ayala thrives with his positioning and mobility, being very active and efficient at getting interceptions. He is also strong in the air and deals well with crosses sent into the penalty box. The most interesting aspect of his game is, perhaps, his ability to lead the team’s buildup. Austin doesn’t rush plays and most of them start with Ayala, who’s extremely intelligent and accurate with his distribution.

Playing in the middle of Austin’s back three, Ayala led their defensive efforts, playing with great composure and efficiency. The center back was very good at protecting the penalty box, cutting passing lanes and occupying the space in the center of the field, while also winning duels. Ayala also showed good mobility when he had to cover his teammates on either side of the backline, quickly getting to the ball. He was excellent in possession as well, displaying great confidence on the ball, not rushing plays and taking his time to find good passes out of the back.