Thread by @m3ngMengz

Is Sarawak United FC the giant killers of Piala Malaysia?

@sufc_rasmi Tactical Analysis or nah?

@AtleadPass
@Bolanalytics
@SemuanyaAnalis1

@sufc_rasmi @AtleadPass @Bolanalytics @SemuanyaAnalis1 Doing it anyways.

Here goes another episode of #HighlightsAnalysis of @sufc_rasmi in Piala Malaysia 2021.

My general impression after watching highlights of the 2 games they played so far is that Sarawak Utd is a hardworking team that doesn't take anything for granted.

@sufc_rasmi @AtleadPass @Bolanalytics @SemuanyaAnalis1 Going to first review tonight's 1-0 win vs @OfficialPahang

In my opinion, both teams they've played against faced the same problems - complacency.

In the first highlight you can see this example in play.

It's a counterattack for @sufc_rasmi.

What was initially a safe situation quickly turned dangerous as a missed tackle from Pahang's defender leaves others scrambling to recover. A pass into the middle of the field finds Uche Agba in acres of space in the penalty area, with no one nearby.

A good save denies the goal.

So, how did Uche Agba get so much space?

If you look carefully at the start of the highlight, he was level with the 2 Pahang midfielders. As the mistake was made, he outruns, no, outhustles 3 defenders on the right side of the field into the space in front of goal.

The mentality of "it's ok, my teammates will handle it" is a worrying one.

Pahang midfielders should be tracking back once possession was lost. The RB should've already been tucked in.

If this was all done early, the chance wouldn't have happened.

On the second FK from Pahang, Kenny Athiu should really have headed into the back of the net there.

But sometimes, that's just how things goes.

The next 2 highlights confirms my suspicions on one of Pahang's key local players - Baqiuddin Shamsuddin.

As a winger, he has a good, agile pair of feet. But for some reason, he's missing a final product on him.

Sure, the first was a tough chance.

But, if you struggle to finish 1v1 from a tight angle against the keeper. that's troublesome.

Aside from that, I was surprised to see Mark the Mountain playing as a striker.

I though they were missing his presence in defense tonight.

and furthermore, he could've affected the game in the same way if being played as the usual libero as well. would've even created overloads in the final third, because no way the striker would track him all the way to their own penalty box.

The moment @sufc_rasmi went 1-0 up.

More ball watching as 4 Pahang players were on the right side of the pitch, but Agba still found a way to play a perfect ball to the edge of the penalty area for Sandro.

Sandro with a deft touch and pass through for the fullback(?)

@sufc_rasmi who runs onto the through ball into the penalty area uncontested.

A shot is fired at the near post and the GK should really have done better there.

@sufc_rasmi holds on for another 33 minutes to secure the 3 points and take top spot in their group.

These highlights courtesy of @MFL_MY :

Moving onto the 3-1 win over Penang FC.

Honestly, I think besides complacency, these Super League teams struggled partly due to the lack of knowledge and footage to analyse prior to the match.

@MFL_MY Oppositely, Sarawak Utd had tons of footage to go through to pinpoint these MSL teams' weak spots.

Here's how to play against the 532 of @sufc_rasmi.

Firstly, attack through the wings, with constant overlaps to overload the wing.

@MFL_MY @sufc_rasmi Once you drag the 3 defenders over to help out, switch the point of attack as quick as possible. That will either leave a 1v1/2v1 on the other wing. That's where you can get a good cross in for your striker to attack.

@MFL_MY @sufc_rasmi More on how to break them down later.

Next @HighlightsAnalysis for now.

vs @fa_penang you could see that Sarawak were comfortable letting Penang attack through the middle in the first HL.

No matter how dominant you are as a striker, Casa-'Iron Head'-grande vs 3 defenders,

is never a good matchup.

Next highlight shows the lack of work rate from Penang.

A counterattack sees Sarawak having the man advantage over Penang with 6 attackers vs 5 defenders.

With all defenders compact in the middle, Agba is able to find the marauding FB on the wing.

the FB puts a cross into the box and a bad touch from the defender almost gifts Sandro da Silva Sarawak's first goal.

Uche Agba shows that he has a deadly set piece delivery on him as well.

Next highlight shows a lack of tactical awareness from the Penang players. Sarawak's LCB pushes up into the space, allowing the FB to attack the defensive line.

I'm assuming the tactics was that the Penang winger was supposed to defend the Sarawak WB.

Hence, Penang's winger was caught in no man's land, and his fellow FB didn't push out to mark the FB tightly.

The Sarawak WB is given ample time and space to put in an inch perfect cross for Uche Agba to show off his athleticism with an in-control bicycle kick goal.

This is partly my problem with Malaysian football in general.

Malaysian footballers tend to react to the football being passed around, instead of dictating the opponents to become more predictable for the defense to handle.

Second highlight, lack of effort from Penang again.

This is a counterattack, and you have 6 Sarawak players sprinting all-out to the other side of the pitch, and there are some Penang players who are jogging back?

Not good enough.

Either from a physical perspective or a mental perspective, just not good enough.

The next highlight showcases one of Sarawak's weak points.

If you can play through the wing and drag thier CMs out, a target man like Casagrande can knock down the ball for attacking CMs to shoot

Another attacking transition for Sarawak and I only see 6 Penang defenders in the screen the whole time.

And Penang's LB is again thinking, "the cross will get dealt with, I'll just catch a breath here."

A great cross along the edge of the 6 yard box, left both Somerville and the CB hesitating.

A 2v1 situation at the back post and a powerful finish into the roof of the goal to put the game out of Penang's reach.

A combination of the lack of effort and complacency.

As if losing hope there and then, Penang never saw another highlight throughout the last half an hour of the game as Sarawak comfortably got their first W.

Now onto how to defeat them.

@KLCityFootball better take notes for their next match in 30 days (?!)

@KLCityFootball Like I partially mentioned above, Sarawak plays with a 532.

The usual 442 KL City play should do well against them, with Roman Morales leading the line and @PauloJosuesr playing as a false nine, ala Firmino's role.

Paulo should especially find a lot of space in the middle

@KLCityFootball @PauloJosuesr if the ball gets switched around from wing-to-wing, or if Roman Morales can knockdown some headers in the penalty area for him to run onto.

Think similarly to the only goal scored against Sarawak Utd.

Try creating overloads on the wing through Perak bullet train, Partiban and tricky Zhafri, with fullbacks overlapping to force 2v1s there.

If Sarawak's 3 in midfield shifts over to help, switch the play to the other wing instead. This will defo create time and space for KLCity.

Defensively, beware of their counterattack and DO NOT underestimate them.

Uche Agba and Sandro are decent players on their own right and Sarawak's hardworking WBs will push up to provide the width.

I think KL City's regular-season defensive discipline should see them through.

That's all for now. It's 2am and I wanna sleep.

May consider doing a more in-depth analysis of their playing style if I have the time :)

Hope you enjoyed this rendition of #HighlightsAnalysis

Looking forward to see how Sarawak adjusts, should KL City adapt.

Once again, highlights courtesy of @MFL_MY :



Watch along if you want to.

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