Match Report: Mullen vs. Eaglecrest (V/JV @4:30 - Mullen Soccer Complex)

 Match Report: Mullen vs. Eagle, JV/V@4:30 - Mullen Soccer Complex

3601 S. Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO 80236

Things to do: 

Kits (This is a home game, we are dark), socks, nutrition (Remember that this is a 4:30pm game, you need to eat food and have snacks, take care of your nutrition, don't eat nothing.)

Eagle Strengths:

Prologue: This is Eaglecrest's final game of the season - a number of their players are traveling for fall break next week. This means one of two things, either that they will put it all on the line to get a result tonight, or they will toss it up in the air and write off their season as some bad luck. 

The way we play will determine which of these attitudes they have in the game. If we go out soft and fail to execute our chances, they will see this as an opportunity to slay the giant and end the season on a high note. The longer you leave them in the game, the more their confidence will grow. 

However, if you execute early, finish your chances, tonight will simply feel like a repeat of their bad luck and they will turn in on themselves.

The outcome of tonight's game is entirely in your control.

1. Eagle pushes the game in a very direct matter. As far as the idea of the game is concerned, this is a decent team. They want to do the right thing. They make good passes, they take good space, and they have penetrating through balls. This is a team that does a lot of the right things, they just lack the talent to capitalize on it. If their confidence grows and their luck changes, they can find their way in.

2. The Eagle goalie is really talented. He has fast reactions, and pretty good hands. The goals that have scored on him have been good goals that he didn't really have a chance on at all. Over the course of the season he has not made a lot of mistakes. He is not going to hand us the game tonight. We are going to have to be clinical in our finishing. If the weather is bad, that will help, but that goes both ways. If it skips for him, it skips for us, so shoot often, and make sure that they don't. 

3. Their 1v1 defending is good, and they tackle well. Their organization is lacking, but the Eagle defense can perform 1v1. We will need to use our momentum and speed to get around their defenders. They will have the advantage on a slow attack. They win a lot of 50/50 and 1v1 attacks. Go hard and be creative.

Eagle weaknesses

1. They have not shown well in attack this season. We can not be lax in the back or make mistakes that give them chances. The only way they will score is if we give them the opportunity. We need another clean sheet tonight. No goals against.

2. Their outside backs are weak, but their recovery and center halfs are decent. We have a better look matching up against their outside backs, so our wingers need to come back to receive the ball. Through balls to the corners will play more to Eagle's strengths, but good movement of the ball and continuing the switch will allow us more favorable match ups. 

3. They don't track the ball across the middle well. We need to find match ups on the wings, bang the end line and bring the ball back across the middle. This means that our 9 and 10 need to be in position and our opposite winger needs to get inside their defender. Don't wait, attack the ball.

4. Psychologically they are very fragile. Early goals are going to put this team in a bad state.

5. They foul a lot. Remember our new tactical implementation - no one talks to the ref but Andrew D. Eagle will work against themselves, we do not need to bring a balance back by being obnoxious.

6. They struggle to track runs on set pieces. You have to finish.

Mullen Strengths against Eagle

The most important things we can do today: 

• Hit our marking assignments with high pressure, especially on the wings. 
• Be dynamic and clinical on set pieces
• Not make any mistakes at the back - we can not be afraid to push a counter against Creek, our direct football against Grandview was very impressive. 
• Trust the game, see what it is giving to us, follow its lead, and take your chances. 
• Recognize the value of every minute. NO PLAYS OFF!

Main Focus:

Capitalize in the final third

Counter quickly

Stay organized on defense

Keys to success: 

1. No mistakes out of the back. Smart decisions and smart passes that avoid the counter.

2. Exploit the space on the flanks and at the top of the box. Outside backs need to get involved in the attack. They should have space to move forward, and their attack will spread the midfield.

    -Outside backs need to dribble at the EHS full backs and then distribute the ball into space or feet. One/Twos around the defense will be very effective.

3. Know the set pieces. Capitalize on set pieces. If we can take advantage of these moments, we will have a great deal of success. 

4. Discipline and structure in the back. We need to hold position and recover for one another. 

5. When in possession of the ball in our defensive third, we need to play quickly, not get the ball stuck under our feet, and play into space instead of small spaces. It is a big field, don't fear the dynamic long ball.

6. Patience. We can't chase them all game. We will have to be okay giving up moments of possession in order to strike when the timing is right. Marking assignment and a high level of confrontation will be key!

7. We need to keep the ball out of the middle of the field in the central third. Swinging the ball quickly through the 6 and the 10 will open up the attack so that outside backs and wingers can serve. (See diagram above.)

Good luck!