Today's Analysis of a Goal comes from the same match as the first did. This is significant as I believe through analyzing goals a team can learn where their weaknesses lie and make necessary adjustments to strengthen their play.
The background: The defending team in this case plays a 1-4-3-3 formation with a well defined attacking system. It's defensive system is flawed both it construct and, of course, in execution. They employ a zonal back 4 with a holding mid and two atacking mids manning the midfield triangle. Three forwards with the wing forwards responsible for weak side width on defense.
GK = Goalkeeper
RB = Right Back
RCB = Right Center Back
LCB = Left Center Back
LB = Left Back
HM = Holding Midfielder
AM = Attacking Midfielder
RW = Right Wing Forward
CF = Center Forward
LW = Left Wing Forward
Goal # 2
This goal can also be traced to a successful long pass. Turnovers can often lead to goqal scoring opportunities. The moment of transition is so critical many coaches emphasize it as being one of 3 phases of the game along with the attacking and defending phases of play.
In this instance a pass from an AM to a CF is not played cleanly. The opposing defender wins the ball away and immediately plays a long pass that defeats and eliminates 6 players - the entire forward and midfield lines.
Film shows the LB in the left central channel challenging opposing forward who has received the ball at a distance of 30 yards from goal. It is unclear why the LB had moved centrally to engage the forward as the LCB appears position well to do so.
The LB initially does a good job of delaying the attack and forcing the opponent to play laterally.
The defending team has typically asked the outside backs to force the ball wide when they engaged opposing ball carriers.
Other zonal teams will ask the outside backs to force the ball carrier inside towards their center back and into what is known as the Pyrite Wedge (Corner, corner, post). Pyrite is also known as fools gold and that is what the wedge is to a ball carrier. He will think he is in on goal but if the outside back and inside back are working together the ball carrier will have little chance at a quality strike and even if he does the goalkeeper only has to defend 4 yards of goal on shots from the Pyrite Wedge.
In this case, because LB was out of position advanced in the central channel in front of the LCB he was completely dependent on the LCB to direct which way to force the play. The HM makes a strong recovery run to the inside and helps the LB to force play laterally away from the face of the goal, but the double team is not aggressive enough to dispossess the attacker.
The LCB has remained almost directly behind the LB while the play is unfolding. Zonal defending is all about supporting the pressure defender. The indecisiveness of the LCB forces his play to be an under lap. In this case, an under lap is essentially the movement the LCB should have executed when he first noticed the LB in his channel and certainly should have made once the HM came back to double team from the inside.
An under lap is a staple of zonal defending that basically sees an inside defender intentionally switch positions with an outside defender. This is usually done on the flank as a counter measure to an opponents attempt at an overlap. In this case the under lap should have been made to both provide cover to the outside and to balance the defensive shape in the defending third of the field.
The double team by the LB and HM force the attacker to move laterally outside towards the left channel where the LCB should have been lying in wait. As it was, there was no cover / support to the outside.
We must note at this juncture that neither the LW nor either AM has recovered to provide support to the outside of the pressure defender. Film does not dictate where they are, only that no one is in the left outside channel where action is being forced to. The RW is also not represented as film does not indicate where he was.
Let's reset the play at this point.
In the diagram below we see how the defense was actually deployed. Note that there is not proper shape and the spacing of the backs leaves the face of the goal unprotected.
With the goal to our backs the attacking ball carrier is being forced from right to left along the top of the 18 across the left center channel and towards the left outside channel. The LB is engaged and the HM is now following the play. The LCB remains almost directly behind the LB at a distance of 10 yards. The RCB is out of position outside of the far post along the top of the 18 but is reasonably positioned in relation to the opponents CM who is beginning a backside run to far post. He is unfortunately watching the ball and will soon lose sight of the backside runners as he turns and runs at his own goal. The RB is the only back in his correct channel but is also not positioned back to goal where he could have seen and picked up runners if he were positioned in the ball / you / man individual defensive triangle. The RW who is responsible for weak side defensive width is not visible on film.
At this point in time we have 5 defenders present in addition to the goalkeeper. All six players are out of position. Let's accept the fact the LB, despite being out of position has the attack contained. The LCB should be outside at a depth of 5 yards and width of 6 yards in position to cover / support the LB. The RCB is advanced on the 18 outside of the far post at a distance of 10 yards from the LB. Besides being advanced this split is far too wide in relation to the position of the ball on the field.
Now let us take a look at how the defense should have been deployed. I have included the wings covering width and all three midfielders. Please note the backs are spaced at 6 yards and can cover the width of the 18. They are also in support of the pressure being applied to the ball. In this instance that would be the LB (with the LCB having moved outside) and the HM who has maintained the double team he initiated when the ball was centrally located.
Referring back to the first diagram the attacker got a step advantage to the outside and shot / crossed the ball along the ground towards the back post. Note their are no backs present in front of the face of the goal to defend the shot / cross. The RCB gets caught running at his own goal and is beaten to the near post by two attackers who have cut in behind him as he faced the ball. Both attackers also cut in front of the RB.
Now note the difference in the second diagram where the LCB is pressuring the ball. The LB has support to the outside. The RCB is in front of the face of the goal and in support of the LCB. The RB has the back post covered. Additionally the wing forwards are shown covering width with an AM having dropped in centrally to cover for the HM who has maintained the double team initiated when the ball was centrally located. With this coverage, and the backs playing back to goal, it would have been nearly impossible for the shot / cross to have cleanly made it across the face of the goal.
As with the first goal analyzed it should be clear that it was a total team break down that allowed this goal to be scored. Everyone will remember the RCB being beaten at the back post and the GK not getting to the ball in time, but this goal originated much further out on the pitch with every single member of the defending team having had an opportunity to interrupt the advance of the ball or prevent the cross / shot and ultimately the goal.
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