Match Report: Mullen vs. Overland (V@4pm - Mullen Soccer Complex) - Senior Night

  Match Report: Mullen vs. Overland @4pm - 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 4:00pm game, you need to eat food and have snacks, take care of your nutrition, don't eat nothing.)

Blazer Strengths:

Prologue: This is Overland's final game of the regular season. They are plagued by some grade issues and traveling players. For them, it is their first elimination game. If they win, they most likely secure a play off spot, if they lose, it's the end. Given the state of things, they will play like a cornered opponent. Ready to fight, desperate to win. Every chance they get will build their confidence. Every goal you score will shatter it. The first ten minutes will determine what this game looks like. If we go out strong, if we find the back of the net early, they will turn on one another and fall apart. This is the most important game of the regular season for us. Every minute has infinite value.

1. Overland is strong, fast, and incredibly technical. Their passing game is decent, but they can bring a ball out of the air and settle the play really well. Their first touch is dynamic and often impressive. Given time, this is a very good Overland team.

-Additionally, they will move the ball with one touch when they can. Their execution is okay, but the idea is there, and if they find a hole, they can exploit it. 

2. They are super hungry tonight. They have nothing to lose, and they know they can play good soccer. For them, the psychological piece will be important. If they find a way in, they are going to play even harder. Momentum will be their best friend tonight. However, if they get down, they will crumble.

3. Their 1v1 defending is good, and they tackle well. Their organization in the back is okay - probably better than Creek or Eaglecrest, and the 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 1v1 attacks. Go hard and be creative.

Blazer weaknesses

1. Overland has a really good coach who is a Burnley guy, and wants to defend. I think Overland will try to block tonight, but I don't think that they have the same discipline as last year. Additionally, a tie won't do it for them. Tonight is win or bust for Overland, so they are going to be antsy to come out. We have to be patient, break them down, and exploit the counter.

2. Overland's biggest struggle on defense is their positioning. They actually have decent structure and the outside backs will get involved in the attack (7/11 you need to track back), but the individual defenders play too far apart. They isolate themselves into 1v1's with no cover. Look at the two images below. The first is what a defense should look like, the second is Overland:

You'll notice that the Porto defenders are close together in pressure and cover. Their defensive line also has depth to cover the through ball. They are also built to shift quickly if the ball switches through the middle.

Overland (in dark here) on the other hand is spread out to their own demise. The distance between the defenders is incredibly detrimental, and it allows the Creek players to exploit the gaps as can be seen in the fact that the one remaining central defender has two incoming players, and the weakside outside back has to take a mark too.

We need to exploit these gaps. If we can run give and gos through the gaps we will be 1v1 with the keeper all night. Our 9 and 10 need to live in the spaces between defenders and we need to play courageous balls to feet.

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

5. This game has the potential to get chippy. 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 are not as strong in the air as other teams. I think this is a night we can make the most of our throws and set pieces. 

7. Lastly, their goalie is hesitant off his line, has been weak from distance, and there is a lack of trust between the keeper and his back line. This results in miscommunications and mistakes. Pressure will exploit this even more. 

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 OHS, our direct football and patient football last night was really 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 OHS 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!