Introduction
This past weekend the Second FFCV was back in full swing for the first matchday of the year. SIA Alzira faced off against Alcasser C.F. in the Municipal Camp of Alcasser. SIA Alzira’s brought along some of SIA Academy’s Next Gen Soccer Pro players in their rooster. Including Thibault Pio and Lukian S., both of which got a significant amount of playing time during the match.
Match Overview
SIA Alzira started off the match in better form than previously seen. Although in the first few minutes of the match Alcasser C.F. held more ball pocession, they were unable to create any dangerous chances and SIA Alzira were continuously creating dangerous situations out of their counter attacks and steals. With the game now well under way SIA Alzira began showing a dominating presence in their defensive half as well as the midfield. Setting the game to their pace by holding possession and creating multiple passing lanes across the entire pitch allowed SIA Alzira to create space in tight situations and continue to move the ball up the field from wherever they would steal it back.
Around minute 30 SIA Alzira had a great steal performed by their back line and quickly moved the ball up the pitch reaching the midfield area. From there Angel passed the ball perfectly in between the defensive line where it was met by Daniel, who was already on a run and did not give any chance for the Alcasser defense to catch up. Being one on one with the keeper Daniel showed his calmness by gently tapping the ball past the keeper to one side of the goal and marking the first goal of the match for SIA Alzira.
Being one goal up gave SIA Alzira the confidence to keep playing the game at their pace and continue moving the ball up as a unit, putting extra pressure on Alcasser to retrieve the ball. In the 37th minute there was a severe foul committed by one of the Alcasser players in which SIA Alzira left back was left injured and had to be subbed off. Alcasser took this opportunity to continue attacking from that side in the hopes of creating a chance on goal. In the 45th minute there was a penalty given to Alcasser for a misunderstanding between two players inside SIA Alziras box. With only SIA Alzira’s goalkeeper and the opposing attacker in the box the ref blew his whistle and SIA Alzira’s keeper makes an incredible save of the bottom corner to keep SIA Alzira advantage going into the second half.
During the break SIA Alzira made a few structural adjustments, hoping to completely shut down any danger previously created by the opposing team. A strategy which seemed to function properly until a long ball was sent behind their defensive line, and the center backs had no time to catch up to the opposing attacker who put it past their keeper and tied up the game. Within a few more minutes a corner was granted to the opposing team. The corner was badly cleared, and the ball was left within the box where an Alcasser F.C. player managed to get a touch to it and push it into the back of the net again.
Needing more offensive pressure now SIA Alzira brought in their attacking subs, hoping to change the game back to their advantage. This gave them more pressure on the offensive end but not enough to cause a mistake in the Alcassers’ back line. Even with all the extra pressure Alcasser C.F. managed to put two more goals past SIA Alzira before the final whistle
MVP
There were a few players whose performances stood out during this match. Naim was a U19 player who was making his debut with the Amateur team and had a great performance as a center back across almost the entire match. Secondly, Lukian S. one of SIA Academy’s players got to play the full length of the match and was extremely efficient and decisive for SIA Alzira as a right back.
