Ruaraka complex played host to an FKF Division 2 Zone D league fixture between Tusker Youth FC and Nyeri side Rware City FC on Thursday. After a shaky opening, Tusker Youth eventually found a way through Rware City Fc’s defensive structure, a game that culminated in a rather dominant 3-1 win for the host.Coming off a 2-0 win over Desert Scorpions, Rware City would have been in high spirits heading into this clash. In this piece, we decode the tactical scenarios depicted in the game. Noting how Tusker Youth managed to emerge as 3-1 victors.Experienced Coach Charles Okere’s Tusker set out in a 1-4-3-3 formation with Edwin Simiyu in goal. Dennis Chimano and the impressive Starlon Odhiambo were the fullbacks with the lanky Emmanuel Manyang and Collins Ochieng tasked as the central defenders. Dwight Shikanda played in the deep midfield position, while the technically astute duo of Brian Githinji and Ryan Odeny acted as the advanced midfielders. 1v1 threat Hassan Kalidhi and talisman Glenn Odhiambo were on the flanks as Douglas Omanga led the line.##NAJAVA_MECA_7336817##Rware City set up in a 1-4-1-3-2 formation, in goal was Isaiya Kagere. Amos Ochieng and Stanley Makokha were the preferred centre-back pairing as Dennis Opiyo and marauding Douglas Kilonzi were the attacking fullbacks. Paul Mungai sat deep, screening the backline as Collins Agwayi played in a more advanced midfield role. Martin Wachira and Isaac Kanyinyi played off the flanks. The front two consisted of Duncan Kibet and Martin WachiraRware City immediately showed the intention of looking to stifle any central penetration by Tusker Youth FC by dropping into a 1-4-4-2 block when out of possession, this enabled them to control Tusker Youth’s occupation of the central spaces, Rware City central midfielders Collins Agwayi and Paul Mungai aided by the dropping Martin Wachira looked to close down the Tusker Youth midfielders. In possession, Tusker Youth employed a 1-3-2-3-2 structure where Ryan Odeny would look to move slightly higher to create a passing option for Brian Douglas Omanga, to avoid having him isolated against the Tusker Youth fullbacks. The Tusker Youth wingers would take this chance to look to stagger into wider areas, looking to detach and stretch the opposition’s last line. This ensured they had better ball manipulation when it was played to their feet and enough space to take on their man 1v1, an area both wingers excelled at.Tusker Youth FC placed a major emphasis on progressing and creating through their left side. Using Ryan Odeny, Starlon Odhiambo, and Glenn Odhiambo to create numerical superiorities, overloads in order to progress and attack the opposition’s alarming area. Tusker Youth had better dynamics on their left side, using majorly Glen Odhiambo to stretch the opposition’s last line; this would create space for Brian Githinji, Ryan Odeny, or even Douglas Omanga to attack the halfspaces.NSL: Shabana obliterate Darajani Gogo to reclaim top spotOn the right side, Tusker looked to use isolation, they looked to isolate the opposition fullback Douglas Kilonzi with Hassan Kalidhi, Hassan proved to have very good 1v1 ability, beating his man with trickery. He won the hearts of many in attendance with how he manipulated the football with feints and stepovers to leave his marker for dead on numerous occasions.Tusker Youth however struggled to effectively circulate the ball in the Rware City half, due to the Rware central compactness. Thus they resorted, as stated to stretching the defensive line wide and using midfield runners to attack the opposition box. With Rware City’s fullbacks looking to push up at any attacking opportunity, Glen Odhiambo and Hassan Kalidhi looked to attack the spaces in behind, this left defensive midfielder Paul Mungai and the ball sided centre back moving out to close them down, a role they did not perform well. If Tusker Youth had been lethal in front of goal they would have bagged a couple more from the repeated occurrence of the above scenario.Out of possession, Tusker Youth were not really stretched as Rware struggled to create stable possession spells throughout the game. They looked to collect the second balls from their long goal kicks. With the Tusker Youth first line of pressure being rather higher up Rware had some superiority at the centre coupled with proper aggression in winning the midfield duels, but still even with winning the second balls and having control of the ball they( Rware) tended to immediately look for long options towards their centre forwards or the ball far wingers. In using these long passes, Rware were looking to exploit Tusker Youth’s lack of central compactness with the Tusker Youth defensive midfielder being far from the backline.’Tell us the truth!’ – Uasin Gishu Governor Chelilim questions Ababu Namwamba on Kipchoge Keino Stadium completionThis created better access for Rware to collect the second ball, case in point their goal, a wonder strike from Martin Wachira from the second ball in and around the central areas after the Tusker Youth goalkeeper fluffed his sweeping clearance. The only dent in a rather dominant display by the Tusker Youth custodian Edwin Simiyu who saved a penalty.Tusker Youth however emerged victors due to how they attacked the crosses and dead balls well. They were able to divide Rware’s attention; the uncertainty in coming to claim from the Rware goalkeeper also did not help their case. Tusker Youth employed whipped in crosses that caused chaos in the Rware backline.In the end it was a convincing win for Tusker Youth, the Ruaraka based side, however, has some very good players in their ranks, the likes of Glenn Odhiambo, Ryan Odeny, Stalon Odhiambo and Emmanuel Manyang who show that future at Ruaraka is bright. A proper functional setup by Coach Charles Okere also worked well for his side.
