Introduction
On Saturday 30th of November, SIA Academy hosted a friendly match against local club Racing Algemesí for all their U16 (G1) and U19 (G2) athletes. The match took place within SIA Academy’s training facilities and included a number of international athletes from the SIA Academy team. Many of the athletes present in this game have also been preparing to compete in the Johan Cruyff Tournament in Tarragona later this week. The SIA Academy team put on a tough performance as they defended their home field from the away side’s constant attempts to tie up the game.
Overview
The game began with both sides attempting to use the full width of the pitch to create early scoring opportunities. Although both teams had a similar style of play it was SIA Academy that was applying the most pressure keeping their adversaries trapped within their own half for a big part of the early game. As the game progressed Racing Algemesí slowly began involving their wingers in their plays but the SIA Academy back line was not giving them any space to create scoring opportunities. At every turnover SIA Academy would make use of their speed on the wing hoping to put pressure on the opposing back line and create a scoring opportunity. Unable to find a goal early on, SIA Academy kept pressing their opponents in their own half, this gave them a chance to put a long ball through the SIA Academy defense and open the scoreboard.
SIA Academy kept their high pressure play style and continued to close down their opponent’s space. Now utilizing more of their back and midfield lines to bring the ball up as a team, SIA Academy began to maintain ball possession making their adversaries work to retrieve the ball. After giving away a foul in their own half, SIA Academy quickly recovered possession and Dallen S., one of SIA Academy’s international youth players, sped down the wing bringing two defenders with him and leaving his international teammate, Joaquin Z., clear to put it away and tie the game at home.
Having just tied the game; the SIA Academy athletes were now determined to take the lead before half time. Maintaining their newly found game rhythm and creating threats down the wings, SIA Academy kept attacking Racing Algemesí’s defense. Scoring opportunities were hard to come by but from a corner kick which the opponent’s defensive line cleared out, the ball landed once again at Joaquin Z.’s feet. He shoots and the ball deflects off of an opposing team’s player and into the back of the net securing SIA Academy’s lead just before the half time break.
The second half saw both teams coming back onto the field with a desire for victory. SIA Academy kept their high-pressure system and continued to create dangerous chances in front of the goal. The opposition’s best response to SIA Academy’s strategies were to increase the physicality of the game by bringing in some of their bigger players from the bench. This new challenge, however, did not faze SIA Academy’s athletes as they continued to dominate possession and use the width of the field to create space. The final score ended at SIA Academy 2 – 1 Racing Algemesí.
MVP’s
After a great performance against a local club SIA Academy’s technical staff chose 3 players whose performances stood out above the rest. Joaquin Z., was this match’s acting captain and was a constant danger on the wing, creating multiple scoring chances and capitalizing on 2 of them. Andrey G., for his work as a right back in assisting both the defensive and offensive lines for most of the match. Dima I., was the goalkeeper in the second half who shut down all offensive attempts by Racing Algemesí’s side including a few 1v1 opportunities.
