2025-04-14, 09:45 PM - Word count: 598
First day of the season started and we got the chance to see the rookies from the SSL academy in actions in the. Amongs the teams that participate on that day, we're going to focus on the Victoria Falls Eagles. They entered the arena with a, what can be interpretated, as a 4-1-4-1 or even 4-1-5 with 2 WB.
Overall, a attacking focus formation that use it's wide range of playmaker in the team to create beautifull pass plays like Tiki Taka, even if in that match, they only had 34% possession. With that low possession rate, they manage to have solid composure and have 9 shot attempt with 5 on target. They were facing of a extremely unorthodoxe tactic, 4-6-0, which proove effective since it was a challenge to infiltrate that heavy and dense mid field presence.
Amongs the new blood in this league, the goalkeeper of the Eagles, McTendies, was particuliary important in the match. Stopping 3 kick and only have it's defenses pierced once. Even with a aggressive formation, the Eagles had great stops overall, stopping in their tracks multiple shots and cornering the opponent to prevent them to take good shot.
Victoria Falls could also count on 3 distinct player as their engine for this match, those being; Mazeed al-Kazmi, their captain Squall Vercetti and Dorian Lexington. Each of them doing over 44 passes with a 73.6% average of pass completion which is a tiny lower than the average of the whole team at 76%. Another example of this great early team chesmitry, and point already mentionned earlier when talking about passes, is their equalizer just 10 min after Atlético scored their first, and only goal of the match, at the 60th minute of the match.
https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx8fR7-pc32uW...54V5bwa4IG
As we can see the highlight, all actions that led to the goal happen on the right flank. Vecetti receiving the ball send it to it's trusty duo CB Lexington, then to al-Kazmi. Still on the right flank of the pitch, the moment al-Kazmi gets the ball, it's a 3v6 situation for the Eagles. Sending the ball to Bunson, gets cornered by 3 players, al-Kazmi takes the opportunity to run up into the spaces a possible One-Two. Bunson to Valderrama, Bunson does the same as al-Kazmi and rush up the pitch, Valderrama to al-Kazmi. Al-Kazmi use his sense of play and awareness to stop his run, slowying down the tempo for a sneaky Zimmerman that all this time, was running behind the back all 6 Atlético players, to get in position. Sends the ball to the bullet Zimmerman, gets it, run just a bit outside the penalty area, sees a dashing Rivers down the middle, cross it, Rivers with a demi-volley to make an equalizer.
Victoria Falls Eagles have still a whole lot to learn about the game, but from what we saw today in the match, they seems to have lots of promising players. Some that weren't mentionned today in this report acted as complete menace on the pitch and if left unmarked didn't hesitate to attempt a shot. The chemistry of the team is already present, in the locker room, McTendies was disappointed to have left a shot go in the net, but all the other player cheered him and themself up stating that it's just the beginning and even if it ended in a draw, they will be back for more.
Overall, a attacking focus formation that use it's wide range of playmaker in the team to create beautifull pass plays like Tiki Taka, even if in that match, they only had 34% possession. With that low possession rate, they manage to have solid composure and have 9 shot attempt with 5 on target. They were facing of a extremely unorthodoxe tactic, 4-6-0, which proove effective since it was a challenge to infiltrate that heavy and dense mid field presence.
Amongs the new blood in this league, the goalkeeper of the Eagles, McTendies, was particuliary important in the match. Stopping 3 kick and only have it's defenses pierced once. Even with a aggressive formation, the Eagles had great stops overall, stopping in their tracks multiple shots and cornering the opponent to prevent them to take good shot.
Victoria Falls could also count on 3 distinct player as their engine for this match, those being; Mazeed al-Kazmi, their captain Squall Vercetti and Dorian Lexington. Each of them doing over 44 passes with a 73.6% average of pass completion which is a tiny lower than the average of the whole team at 76%. Another example of this great early team chesmitry, and point already mentionned earlier when talking about passes, is their equalizer just 10 min after Atlético scored their first, and only goal of the match, at the 60th minute of the match.
https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx8fR7-pc32uW...54V5bwa4IG
As we can see the highlight, all actions that led to the goal happen on the right flank. Vecetti receiving the ball send it to it's trusty duo CB Lexington, then to al-Kazmi. Still on the right flank of the pitch, the moment al-Kazmi gets the ball, it's a 3v6 situation for the Eagles. Sending the ball to Bunson, gets cornered by 3 players, al-Kazmi takes the opportunity to run up into the spaces a possible One-Two. Bunson to Valderrama, Bunson does the same as al-Kazmi and rush up the pitch, Valderrama to al-Kazmi. Al-Kazmi use his sense of play and awareness to stop his run, slowying down the tempo for a sneaky Zimmerman that all this time, was running behind the back all 6 Atlético players, to get in position. Sends the ball to the bullet Zimmerman, gets it, run just a bit outside the penalty area, sees a dashing Rivers down the middle, cross it, Rivers with a demi-volley to make an equalizer.
Victoria Falls Eagles have still a whole lot to learn about the game, but from what we saw today in the match, they seems to have lots of promising players. Some that weren't mentionned today in this report acted as complete menace on the pitch and if left unmarked didn't hesitate to attempt a shot. The chemistry of the team is already present, in the locker room, McTendies was disappointed to have left a shot go in the net, but all the other player cheered him and themself up stating that it's just the beginning and even if it ended in a draw, they will be back for more.
