2022-01-09, 11:15 AM - Word count:
There’s nothing quite like a single game winner-takes-all finals game to truly show the best of what this league has to offer.
The Tokyo Sports Club took on the Inter London Football Club in what ended up being a game with no clear winner until the end. Neutrals were treated to an exciting event while supporters of both clubs woke up with fewer hairs on their heads.
For Tokyo, they largely dominated the match with their 5-1-3-1 formation, which acted more like a 3-1-6 whenever they had possession of the ball, overwhelming the Inter box with bodies. The backline 3 of Vercetti, Rup and Siege generally ended up being more than enough to watch the lone forward for Inter as O’Conner was left isolated. This only changed in the second half once Inter retained possession. Soderberg tucked inside as an insulating layer above the back 3, whereas everybody else was repeatedly sent forward. Shion Okamoto (@twix) was a deserved honorable shoutout considering how well he paid off his manager’s faith in repeatedly being entrusted to create chances from the right side. There were countless offsides by the winger but both goals were directly influenced by his movement and passing.
The first of the game came from a knockdown by Okamoto into a one-two play with Briedis, followed by a cutback pass from Okamoto into an Isagi shot. Batsbak was the well positioned recipient to tuck away the rebound off of a great team effort. As for the game winner, once again Okamoto found himself on the right side receiving a pass from Bjorkas. The difference this time was Inter covering the space in front in front and outside of the ball carrier while leaving the inside completely open for a through ball in between the centre backs for Briedis to tuck away the ball in the bottom left corner. Despite Inter’s 4-2-3-1 setup theoretically providing that cover in the middle, a failed aggressive press by Inter's Wellerman on Tokyo's Bjorkas and the other defensive cover of Gordon being occupied by yet another Tokyo body in Isagi meant the Inter fullbackTaim was yet again left on his own to deal with Okamoto.
Undecided but a part 2 in discussing Inter’s possession and Nootazuki’s heroics could be next.
The Tokyo Sports Club took on the Inter London Football Club in what ended up being a game with no clear winner until the end. Neutrals were treated to an exciting event while supporters of both clubs woke up with fewer hairs on their heads.
For Tokyo, they largely dominated the match with their 5-1-3-1 formation, which acted more like a 3-1-6 whenever they had possession of the ball, overwhelming the Inter box with bodies. The backline 3 of Vercetti, Rup and Siege generally ended up being more than enough to watch the lone forward for Inter as O’Conner was left isolated. This only changed in the second half once Inter retained possession. Soderberg tucked inside as an insulating layer above the back 3, whereas everybody else was repeatedly sent forward. Shion Okamoto (@twix) was a deserved honorable shoutout considering how well he paid off his manager’s faith in repeatedly being entrusted to create chances from the right side. There were countless offsides by the winger but both goals were directly influenced by his movement and passing.
The first of the game came from a knockdown by Okamoto into a one-two play with Briedis, followed by a cutback pass from Okamoto into an Isagi shot. Batsbak was the well positioned recipient to tuck away the rebound off of a great team effort. As for the game winner, once again Okamoto found himself on the right side receiving a pass from Bjorkas. The difference this time was Inter covering the space in front in front and outside of the ball carrier while leaving the inside completely open for a through ball in between the centre backs for Briedis to tuck away the ball in the bottom left corner. Despite Inter’s 4-2-3-1 setup theoretically providing that cover in the middle, a failed aggressive press by Inter's Wellerman on Tokyo's Bjorkas and the other defensive cover of Gordon being occupied by yet another Tokyo body in Isagi meant the Inter fullbackTaim was yet again left on his own to deal with Okamoto.
Undecided but a part 2 in discussing Inter’s possession and Nootazuki’s heroics could be next.
