The #CanWNT/#CanXNT did really well with their set-pieces against Brazil in their last match. They created many opportunities through their off the ball movement to create space to attack & to exploit Brazil's defensive set-up.
Here are a few quick things I noticed:
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Their first big chance came from a set-piece that they were able to set up similarly to a corner.
Prince runs a pick on the defenders at the front-post to open up space for Sinclair, who made a run around her. Looks very much like a play you'd see in basketball to open up a shot.
On the Zadorsky goal, 🇨🇦 looked to draw 🇧🇷 out of their defensive shape & towards the ball. Grosso initiates this w/ a run towards Fleming at the corner, taking a defender w/ her.
Fleming plays the ball to Lawrence, & Zadorsky + Buchanan reset their runs before the D advances.
This ball to Lawrence is meant to draw Brazil's D towards the ball-side of the field, opening up space to attack the back post.
Zadorsky & Buchanan re-setting their runs before the D advances allows them to be in a position to attack a delivery against the momentum of the defense
As the ball reaches Lawrence, the Brazil defense draws their line forward & there is a shift towards the ball. Lawrence plays a quick delivery to the back post against Brazil's shift & against the momentum of their advancing defenders for the re-set Zadorsky & Buchanan to attack.
Canada's second goal came down to the consistent positioning of Adriana Leon (C) & the exploitation of Brazil's zonal marking system.
As seen in the previous set-piece set-ups, Leon was being positioned at the top of the box.
Brazil's zonal system allows for Canadian movement in the box, which Canada exploits by sending Sinclair short to meet a front-post delivery by Fleming.
Because of Leon's consistent positioning, Sinclair is able to flick her header on w/ the knowledge that Leon is in that space.
Some real training ground stuff from the #CanWNT/#CanXNT, and great ways to exploit Brazil's defensive set-piece scheme. Really looking forward to seeing how this develops in the re-match. 🍁
With some of the talk around CPL players drawing attention from MLS sides, I thought I’d take a quick look at a player that looks to be on the move to #TFClive now - Lukas MacNaughton.
An attribute that stands out consistently in MacNaughton’s game is his aerial ability in defensive situations. Last season, MacNaughton had 30 headed clearances, with his physicality playing a big part in that success.
This physicality also allows him to put attackers off, even when he is not able to win the header - an issue not faced all too often by MacNaughtan as he won 71.1% of his aerial duels in 2021.