The Nyayo National Stadium played host to yet another tasty battle between two winning machines on Sunday, in what could genuinely amass a “title decider” shout. Tusker, sitting at the top of the FKF-PL table was looking forward to the opportunity to pull away in the title race while Gor Mahia, a point adrift of the league leaders were determined to topple over Tusker and take control of the final charge towards the trophy. However, both teams were forced to share points after they failed to find the back of the net. The result leaned to favor Tusker more because they retain their league with three games to go. This piece aims to unlock the tactical nuances both managers applied to try and get the better of each other.Tusker lined up with a clean sheet maestro, Brian Bwire in goal, Monyi Kelvin, Levin Joseph, Thomas Teka, and Charles Momanyi in the backline. Mieno Humphrey, Otieno Eric, and Mmata Eric had the duty to breathe life into the midfield line while Siwa Shaphan, Ouma Rogers, and Oduor Micheal were tasked with the duty to provide offensive firepower.Gor Mahia sent their generals in a 4-3-3 formation also, with Gad Matthews in goal, Philemon Otieno and Geoffrey Ochieng as wide players in their defensive line alongside Dennis Njire Nganga and Owino Sylvester. A midfield trio comprised Ernest Wendo, Sydney Wahongo, and Omondi Boniface. Austin Odhiambo and Lwasa Peter ensured support to the elite Benson Omala in the final line.Against All Odds: The inspirational journey of Paul Jawa, refugee turned football starWhile Robert Matano is known for his clear intentions on verticality and directness, Johnathan McKinstry has a bit of patience in his game, he is also very direct. He prefers to build up play with patience and automatisms but no one should tell you that he is rigid only to that approach, he can easily switch it up and go direct.Tusker had structured on a 2-3-2-3 or 2-3-5 in possession with Thomas Teka and Charles Momanyi positioned by the penalty box lateral lines, ensuring enough distance to absorb Gor’s press whenever they decided to build up from the back. Monyi Kelvin and Levin Joseph pushed up to join captain Humphrey Mieno in the subsequent line while Otieno, Mmata, Siwa, Oduor, and Ouma alternated around interior positions, target men or wide areas. Tusker is a very fast, fluid, and aggressive team. This means that there are a lot of movements in between players exchanging positions to ensure the system remains afloat and effective. The entire team, bar the center back pair, keep on changing positions constantly while maintaining their structure. Ouma and Mieno periodically dropped to pick up balls from the center backs and take initiatives in distribution. Of course, this is possible because of the invaluable qualities of the ball; close control, the ability to receive and turn in tight spaces, and their eyes for a pass to solve pressure situations.In sequences when they play from the back and because Gor Mahia was pressing in a 4-4-2 or 4-1-4-1 depending on the situation, Bwire, throw-out goes to either of the center backs, the first instinct seemed going forward, penetrating through Gor’s press or going over it. For instance, to Teka, Omalla starts to press so then he raised his head and tries to lob a pass to Ouma Rogers into the midfield, the pass is incomplete and they lose possession. However, that was the idea. When these plays went through, Tusker often cut Gor open with their intricate passing, short combinations, and movements, simply joy to watch. Full backs often, inverted to bring balance and help to achieve settled play in possession. Out of possession, the brewers were organized in a 4-5-1 mid-block with the player closest to the ball stepping out to press. If the ball is with either center back, Eric steps while the rest remain in the midblock, if the ball is with a fullback, the closest winger steps out while others react to cover his space such as by Eric moving back to join the midblock.##NAJAVA_MECA_7292351##In possession, Gor Mahia moved in a 2-3-3-2 structure that often morphed into 2-3 in the last lines. The center pair of Njire Dennis and Owino Sylvester were positioned similarly to Tusker, by the lateral lines of the penalty box. The first phase also looked the same, with a lot of caution to go through Tusker’s press. Ernest Wendo anchored the midfield with the support of Otieno and Ochieng on the overlap. Lwasa, Austin, and Wahongo stayed relatively narrow in the next line. During settled play, the narrow trio allowed the full-back to push further up and attack the spaces, or the two frontmen, Omala and Boniface dropped wide to receive and allow the midfield trio to attack the half-spaces. However, Gor Mahia did not have the patience to build up, Gad or Njire, and Owino quickly went direct into the wide areas to find Omala, Bonface, or any joining players from the midfield to attack spaces created by the narrow trio in the third line or half-spaces. This approach resulted in a battle of duels and fair enough, Gor won most of them. Austin, Lwasa, and Wahongo had a numerical advantage, 3-3 to Tusker’s 3-2 in the majority of the play in the central zones. Therefore, when Gor won the second and third balls as a result of direct balls from their first phase, they had enough bodies to combine and string passes. However, poor decision-making, poor passes, and passages of plays meant that the green army barely capitalized on this advantage. Full backs were often late to join play or rushed passes resulted in turnovers for the opponents.Off the ball, Gor also pressed in a 4-5-1 shape but it was often structured as a 4-2-3-1. Omala step up to press Tuskers back two while Lwasa, Bonface kept their eyes on the full-backs. One of either Austin or Wahongo dropped to join Wendo as the remaining player stepped in to mark Tusker’s first free receiver. The receiver could be Mieno or Ouma.A decent treat that explains why the two teams are contending for the league title this season. The stakes remain very high and a ticket to CAF is up for grabs with three games to go.
