Seattle Sounders FC 2 returns to action on Tuesday night (7:30 p.m. PT, TICKETS) at Starfire stadium to take on San Antonio FC, currently in first place in the USL western conference. The Rave Green will look to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the conference’s second-placed team, Real Monarchs SLC, with a strong showing in front of the home supporters.
Through the first five matches of the campaign, SAFC has lined up in two formations: a standard 4-2-3-1 and a more attack-minded 4-1-4-1. In reality, both systems morph into a 4-2-4 in the run of play.
Although they’ve held the majority of possession in several matches so far, make no mistake, this is a counter-attacking team. With left-winger Billy Forbes providing pace and width and their No. 6 Pecka operating as a midfield general, the San Antonio side is lethal in transition.
Forbes has been a statistical anomaly thus far. The Turks and Caicos international leads the USL in both goals (4) and assists (3), as well as SAFC in chances created (8), despite only attempting nine shots all season and completing 11.2 passes-per-game on average. Forbes, who led the North American Soccer League in assists in both 2014 (7) and 2015 (8), is an incredibly direct player that possesses a unique blend of pace, strength and skill.
Forbes’ ability to make mazy forays the length of the field and penetrate off the dribble poses a nightmare matchup problem. If you step to him, he can burn you on the dribble. But if you drop off him, he’s got a cultured left-foot that can shape passes behind the back four for easy tap-ins.
As much attacking thrust as Forbes provides, Brazilian midfielder Pecka is the heart of this San Antonio squad. The diminutive destroyer covers a ton of ground defensively in front for the back four while also initiating counter attacks. SAFC’s No. 6 leads the team in interceptions (22) and is third in tackles won (12). Once Pecka wins back possession, he’s extremely efficient in his use of the ball, completing 85.7-percent of his passes, with only 15.3-percent of those going backwards.
Here are three tactical matchups to watch.
RESTRICT CHANCES ON THE BREAK
While San Antonio is the only remaining unbeaten side in the league, S2’s personnel and playing style could potentially nullify the threat Forbes and Pecka offer. For example, Nouhou is one of the few left backs in USL that possesses the speed, strength and 1v1 defending to match Forbes in transition. However, the best way to deal with a player of Forbes’ ilk is to deny him opportunities to break in space, which means marking Pecka out of the match. Expect S2’s No. 10, whether it be Zach Mathers or David Olsen, to track the Brazilian all over the field and press relentlessly to force him to pass backwards.
SET PIECES, SET PIECES, SET PIECES
San Antonio has been relatively ineffective from attacking set pieces thus far. And since they’re so lethal on the counter, expect plenty of professional fouls to slow down play and tactical fouls in S2’s defensive half. If S2 can slow the game down with fouls and gritty challenges, they’ll restrict SAFC’s ability to attack space on the break.
At the other end, SAFC has showcased some questionable defending when it comes to set pieces, especially corner kicks. Expect plenty of quality service from Mathers and Ray Saari from dead-ball situations. If those two can pick out the likes of Sam Rogers, Riley Grant and Olsen, S2 will generate some high-quality scoring opportunities.
ATTACK THROUGH THE MIDDLE
In possession, S2 like to spread out and build from the back in order to shuttle the ball forward and pick apart the other team’s defense. And since Pecka is often left alone on island in front of the back four, look for quick passing combinations between the Rave Green attacking midfielders and striker to create space for a shot.
Much of the credit for SAFC’s stingy defense goes to goalkeeper Matt Cardone. The goalkeeper has already made 16 stops on the season, with several highlight-reel saves contributing to his absurd 88.9-percent save success rate. Many of the shots he’s faced have come from the pocket of space in the central channel right in front of the back line, because the 4-2-4 leaves the midfield-two with acres of space to cover. And with Cardone suffering an injury in the match against Whitecaps FC 2, he was substituted early and his health-status is still unknown, SAFC may be forced to hand Diego Restrepo his first start in goal.
S2 have the personnel to punish the SAFC defense for dropping off too far, with the likes of Olsen, Seyi Adekoya, Mathers and Shandon Hopeau all capable of scoring goals from distance.
