Match Report: Mullen vs. Durango (Playoffs Round 2)

 Match Report- Mullen vs. Durango

Location: Mullen High School (3601 S. Lowell Blvd.)

Kick off: Noon

Arrival time: 10:50

Boots on by 11:15/Warm up @11:20

Notes: We learned a lot of good things from our TCA game in the first round and I believe if we can implement them going forward, we will be increasingly difficult to beat! Let's learn, grow, and win.

Durango Strengths:

This Durango team is both athletic and technical. They have a handful of strengths that we need to be aware of going into the second round of the playoffs. 

1. They have a couple players of interest. Their CBs seem to be good 1v1 players who will fight hard for the ball in the air. Their center forward and left wing comprise most of their offense. In that way, they are constantly looking for ways to push their striker beyond the front line. When they can't manage that, they employ the wings a little more, both of whom can send a nice cross across the box. The wingers are faster than they are technical, and if we are organized, we should absorb a lot of their passing attempts. 

2. The striker likes to sit in the half space in front of the back line, but she also has no qualms about staying all the way up with the CBs. We just need to make sure we are communicating and have eyes on her the whole time.

3. Set pieces: I think this is Durango's greatest strength. As noted today in practice, they have a long throw, and a very effective corner. Regarding the long throw, we need to give away as few throw ins as possible in our defensive third. If you are going to kick a ball out (which is a better decision than a poor clearance across the middle) try to kick it as far up the line as you can. With that said, when we face the long throw, which we will at one point or another, we need to make sure the strong side winger is standing in front of the thrower, and we should treat every throw in the final third like a corner. Man mark, front and back post, Lizzy floats.

Additionally, remember that they set up a corner much like our Bumble Bee corner, but they all pop out off the line and head it back toward goal. Follow your girl out, stay goal side.

4. From the look of it, this Durango team is also super physical. They get away with a lot of it down there, we can only hope that the game is called cleaner up here. However, expect a physical game. We need to match their intensity and physicality where appropriate with out giving away silly fouls. 

The biggest thing is that we shouldn't be surprised by anything they bring tomorrow. Stay focused. Defend throws and corners correctly - expect the long throw, hustle out to the line. Expect them to play physically, bring the intensity. Durango catches a lot of people off guard and that is how they get a lot of their wins - don't be surprised, fight hard to shut them down.

5. Lastly, they are a technical team and they do like to move the ball around the back. Remember that we are in a mid-block with an organized press. Let them move the ball around while our 9 and 10 push them toward the the outside backs, then we press hard into the line with our OB tight against their winger. If we stay organized, they are going to pass the ball right to us.

Durango weaknesses:

It is hard to tell because they haven't played a really difficult schedule, and the footage we have doesn't show them in any hard games.

What we can gather is this: they are a very opportunistic team that depends a lot on mistakes and set pieces to score. If we can limit our mistakes and defend set plays, we can make this game really hard for them. 

Additionally, though Palisade did not have much for them going forward, Durango did appear quite venerable on the counter. Palisade had a handful of chances to push the ball down field, they were just unable to execute. Much of these opportunities were a result of good pressure on defensive players (which is good because that is the whole point of our press), and a somewhat organized press. If we can execute our shape, press the Durango players and be quick in transition, this game is ours for the taking. 

Mullen Keys to success: 

We have talked a lot about this the last couple of days in film, so we will keep it simple:

1. Our OBs need to take every opportunity to get up with the game. When the winger drops, they need to go. When we are on the attack, they need to go. If we want to score goals, they need to go. And if we want to stay organized they need to go. 

2. We need to anticipate the game and step hard to our marking assignments. This applies to everybody. I don't want us waiting until our mark gets the ball and then stepping. I want us to anticipate them getting the ball and already be in their shorts before they have an opportunity to turn or play a 1-2 with a teammate.

3. We need to make sure we are in pressure cover all over the field. This especially applies to our 6's and our CBs. When our six steps to a player, one of our CB's need to step into cover to take away the space in between our midfield and our backline - this will help us to win more balls and stop more shots.

4. When the ball goes back out, our back line and defensive mids need to step up with the play. This means our 6s and OBs need to start the push so our CBs can step up as well. CBs need to communicate to push up the line if it isn't happening.

5. Finally, our attackers need to check back to the ball and be efficient with their distribution. We can cause this Durango team a lot of problems if we transition the game quickly, especially to the weakside 7/11 our outside back. Remember, when we are under pressure, don't miss the opportunities to quickly and efficiently relieve it.

Also - please remember the following:

A defensive low block

If Durango comes out and sits low looking for the counter, we are going to need to stay composed and patient as we attempt to create opportunities on goal.

Remember, there are three ways to break down the block.

1. Shoot from outside the block

2. Penetrate the block by moving into the half spaces and looking for 1-2 passes

3. Crossing the ball into the block (we are going to need a presence in the middle)

The biggest thing will be our patience and our off ball movement. Against the block, we need to play as a team and work together to find opportunities. We still need to play with a sense of urgency and not allow them to slow and frustrate the pace of the game. Against a block we have to be hungry and play quickly. 

Also - we can not forget our take aways from Lutheran - allow them to motivate us!

1. Play with your head up

2. Come into the half spaces to get the ball - don't just wait for it.

3. Most importantly, everybody defends. Find your marks and pick them up. 

Let's start playing like a championship team now.

DON'T LOSE THE THROWER - RETAIN POSSESION ON THE THROW

Set Pieces:

Defending corners: 

Remember that when we are defending corners, we are in a man/zone hybrid. The zone marks are at the posts, and floating near the back of the six. Every other player should be marking an opponent. If there is no second taker, that player needs to drop back and pick up a mark, as does our nine if we are outnumbered. Purple = zone, Navy = man mark

Corners -

REMEMBER: When you are down in the attacking corner and trapped, play the ball off your opponent. We should be looking for moments to get throws and corners in the attacking third.

REMEMBER: We don't want to rush our corner kicks or set pieces. They are an invaluable part of our system and a great way to score goals. Huddle up before the corner to figure out who is going where and then execute your run!

Marcoux: This is an in swinging corner hit to the middle of the goal inside the second six (the space between the six yard box and the pk spot) runs should be made to the near and far post and the middle. Remember to send the ball back across the face of the goal at the far post.

2: This is an overlapping corner. The first player plays the ball short and then overlaps the second player who then lays it off. The initial player should then hit a curving ball to the far post (on goal) We need to crash the far post.

2 - option: If the defender over commits, the second player should beat them on the dribble down the line.

Bumble Bee: Create a hive around the goalie. The taker should hit an inswing ball in on goal. One player should break to the near post, and another should roll off to the back post. 

Blue: Two players bounce off the posts, the server plays the ball deep to the back post, and that player heads the ball back across the goal.

7: Line up like we are taking 2. Outside backs stay deep. Play the ball to the outside back, she plays it back to the second player, and that player swings it into the back post. When the initial ball plays, the weakside OB is sprinting to the back post to finish the shot. 

GATITO (Little kitties): On this corner, the server should send in a violent and volitile inswinging ball. We will then pump fake runs into the box, allow the ball to be served, and then crash the area where the ball is headed. On this corner, you are hunting down poor clearances or misplayed balls that land in the box. 

Lollipop: Three players at the near post, 2 players at the back post (our 9 plays the kitty and hunts at the top) The three players roll off to the far post, the middle, and the near post, while the two players in the back run across the face of the goal. The server hits an inswinging corner.

Rio: This is 2, but quickly and deceptively. One person goes to the corner while the other goes to get the ball. Make a show of sending the ball to the kicker like you aren't involved in the play. Then step onto the field and execute the corner.

Good luck!