Among a host of changes to the game and innovations popping up at every turn, short corners remain an understudied facet of the game. While they often frustrate fans in stadiums when they ultimately come to nothing, the right short corner kick routine can bear fruit for any team, creating an overload before whipping the ball into the box.
Kansas City Current have shocked the NWSL in 2022, going on an incredible run of form at the end of the season to win or draw 17 of their last 20 games, and secure a spot in the playoffs where they now await the Final. Along the way, Matthew Potter has played some of the most tactically flexible football in the division, creating a team of workhorses ready to fight each and every day for the betterment of the team. They've not only played some of the best football this season, but have done so with one of the lowest budgets, and arguably the least amount of star power in their ranks.
Out of all the 'Target Women' around, Bethany Balcer might be one of the very best in the modern game. Frequently used as an outlet for progressive passes, Balcer's back-to-goal incisiveness remains a threatening endeavour for her team, and one that is frequently useful in advancing OL Reign up the pitch. But now, after the arrival of Jordyn Huitema, Balcer's even upped her scoring game, ensuring Huitema has very little room to work with in stealing a spot in the squad at the start of her Reign career. Here is an analysis of Bethany Balcer's exceptional hold-up play, and the vast array of traits that make her one of the best forwards in the NWSL.
While brilliant, this set-piece won't work 100% of the time. But if your team can properly assess a time to play a short corner like this (such as having a player unmarked at the top of the box) and capitalize on that opportunity, this corner kick routine courtesy of Kansas City may just guarantee you goals.
As often happens in a tightly contested affair, Washington Spirit's encounter with the Chicago Red Stars saw one team outperform the other in the attacking third, and the other come out in wonderfully matching that intensity in the defensive third. Washington should have claimed victory, having hit the bar twice and dominating much of the play, but Chicago held their own, accumulating chances to put the game to bed themselves.
In quite fantastic fashion, there is an abnormal representation of centre-halves on set-piece duties. Normally associated with banging in the goals from free kicks and corners, several NWSL teams instead have one of their centre-backs as a key taker of set-pieces. This begs the question we should always be asking in analysis - and that is...why?
The enthralling back and forth encounter between Washington Spirit and OL Reign was full of non-stop energetic thrusts, between two high pressing, quick transitioning teams.
The NWSL is back! This season, TheMastermindSite.com aims to bring more coverage to the NWSL and the women's game, including tactical analyses, player profiles, and as much as we can pull off within the scope of all the other exciting football around. So with that, let's kick off the NWSL season in style, with our match analysis of the very first fixture in this league for Angel City FC, as they secured a fashionable win over the NC Courage.
Players engage in 1v1 battles just about as much as anything else in the game. So, to help players defend their 1v1's to the best of their ability, we provide eight tips for success when defending 1v1 situations.
The 2019 Women's World Cup continues to entertain as Group C becomes the third group to kickoff, with a full-throttled match between Australia and Italy. This opening Group C fixture came up with a bit of a shocking upset as Italy snatched it at the very end to beat the NWSL-powered Australia. Let's get right into … Continue reading FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia 1-2 Italy – Tactical Analysis
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