‘Orange Card’: South Eugene vs Lake Oswego


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The Orange Card is a weekly production aimed at highlighting and analyzing one High School Boys varsity match each week. The column will focus on tactics, formation, and top talent in the state of Oregon. As the season progresses the author will start a Power Ranking system based off of games watched and coaches opinions from around the state.

Thursday was a windy day and the gusts were still about when South Eugene kicked off into the sun at Lake Oswego’s turf field. South Eugene, coached by Jurgen Ruckaberle, started his squad off in a 3-4-3 formation (or a 4-3-3 depending on Aidan Johnson’s role at times). The 3-4-3 can be a bold formation yielding a high pace game with action at both ends and the match proved to be exactly that. Oswego maintained the same 5-4-1 formation as they played against Gresham.

The flow of the game started early. Throughout the game the strength of Eugene started with their back line. Left back Sawyer Corson, sweeper Aidan Braun, and right back Casey Brandon were rock solid in live play. Moreover, the skill level and passing intelligence they possessed flashed in a way that likely puts them as the most formidable backline in 6A competition. The backline is wholeheartedly bolstered by Aidan Johnson who forms the top of the diamond. Johnson was man of the match on the day. His reading of the Oswego attack, strong, athletic tackling, and positive dribbling and distribution helped earn South Eugene their possession advantage throughout the game. It is rare in high school ball to see a player of Johnson’s abilities play a “top-diamond” or a true central-defensive-midfield role, but he was honest to the role and showed he knew the tactics well. Moreover, the floating nature of the top of the diamond allowed the adept back line to comfortably pass the ball around Oswego’s lone striker and find Johnson as a midfield outlet.

Eugene’s midfield was formidable as well. The anchor had to be George Dickerson, who demonstrated a good first touch and good control. The Eugene pattern of attack is as follows: work the ball around the back line, then find one of the three forwarders checking to, have him lay it off to a central midfielder, and then have him play in a winger on the width. It was impressive to see a high school team have such a formulated attack plan and it worked well. The chances in quality and quantity were in Eugene’s favor throughout the game.

Lake Oswego fought hard and had chances scattered throughout the game. They looked most threatening from set pieces. Ethan Elliott has a strong left foot and he can place the ball where he wants. Some of his set pieces would prove difficult for Eugene’s defense to handle.

Oswego struggled in their attack. Oswego started Clay Driske as the only striker (occasionally Elliott played up enough to appear as a striker but he mostly toured as a true central-attacking-midfielder). Driske is a good player but his talent is as a strong hold up center-forward. Instead of playing the ball into his feet and letting the five midfielder’s advance, Oswego commonly played direct football and put balls over the top. The attack was not effective as Driske’s advantage was not in his speed.

The two defining moments of the match happened within five minutes of each other. The first was provided by Elliott. He created Oswego’s best chance with an in-swinger that was poked towards goal, then lunged at again, and then just as Eugene’s goalie, Rori Sullivan, was wrapping it up–slotted into goal. The goal, however, was called off. The referee judged that Sullivan had control at the time the final attempt occurred and the score stayed at zeroes. Oswego moderately protested, it was a close call, but the decision stood.

Minutes later Eugene built up the attack from their back line and the ball was soon in Oswego’s defensive third. A threat didn’t look obvious. Oswego’s back line was behind ball and talented goalie Owen Van Lehman was in position. When you shoot, things happen. Forward Daniel Krueger proved this when he fired in a low shot which took two deflections and slid in past the helpless Van Lehman. The goal proved to be the only one of the match and five minutes later the referee blew the final whistle.

Man of the Match:

Aidan Johnson: Johnson plays the same role for Eugene as Xabi Alonso does for Real Madrid. He sits just atop the back line and is used offensively as an outlet and a tool to switch the attack with his accurate long balls. Johnson displayed strong tackles and good reading of the attacks. His dribbling ability is also effective and allowed him to keep possession in the congestion provided by Oswego’s five midfielders.

Top Performers:

Sawyer Corson, sweeper Aidan Braun, and right back Casey Brandon: Eugene’s back line is comprised of talented and athletic soccer players. Their composure and shape allowed them to be effective defensively and to serve as the beginning of Eugene’s attack.

George Dickerson: Dickerson is a tall central midfielder with good dribbling ability and a good first touch. Most of Eugene’s attacks starred him. With tight dribbling ability he commonly made defenders miss and spurred a chance with the ensuing chaos.

Grand Donaldson: Donaldson had another solid performance at right back. Donaldson showed good defensive shape and a knack for intercepting passes. He was also a talented tackler. Moreover, Donaldson showed fancy footwork from time-to-time and he was able to keep possession. As a freshman, Donaldson will be a player to keep an eye on.

Rori Sullivan: Oswego had chances throughout the match and the clean sheet would not have happened without some fantastic saves by Sullivan. Because of Eugene’s talented backline there were few chances from open-play but Oswego did pose some close range threats occasionally. Sullivan showed strong hands and quick reactions in his saves.

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