Scoutmania

Sportland Arena (Tallinn). Compulsion to win – but from different reasons. Two games before the season’s ending in the Esiliiga (2nd tier), Tallinna Kalev U21 was on its run to stay surely in the league, with avoiding the play-out, while Viimsi JK on the away side targeted winning the championship hand in hand with automatic promotion to the Meistriliiga.

JK Tallinna Kalev U21 team coach, Alo Bärengrub decided to send his players to the pitch in a 4-4-2 (double 6) formation – which was already common in the previous rounds. They had to collect all possible points from the last two matches to stay surely in the Esiliiga – avoiding the play-out. Despite of this kind of pressure, the home team didn’t play ‘convulsively’ – although his opponents possessed the ball more, both teams were equal in play. Keeping the focus and to be patient (even during one-goal lead) were key factors in their play, they tried to take the advantages immediately when spaces in Viimsi’s defense were opened.

It was delighting to see that the coach was able to ‘shake’ his team despite of conceding an equalizing goal in the extra time of the first half. After taking the lead again, the focus was on keeping the opposing team under high pressure on their half – instead of ‘parking the bus’ at the back.

Viimsi JK, coached by Ivo Lehtmets, started in a 4-3-3 formation (4-2-1-3 with the mobility of Lorougnon Gohi). Before the game, they had same points as their rivals Harju JK Laagri had (72) – so the plan was clearly the win. Viimsi’s main striker Gregor Lehtmets (son of the coach Ivo and the most likely player to win Esiliiga’s top scorers’ award this season) demonstrated this purpose by hitting the left post only after 42 seconds.

Being one-goal down, they were able to change the tempo to a higher level, tried to put heavy pressure onto the opposing players and also to regain the possession on the home team’s half as soon as possible.

In general, they were promising at finding the ‘weak points’ of Tallinna Kalev’s high defensive line (with searching mainly for Gregor Lehtmets, as we can see in the image below) but they couldn’t score more goals, so the chances to bring point(s) home flew away.

The best potential players in my opinion:

Rasmus Talu (JK Tallinna Kalev U21), winger born in 2007.

Rasmus is a tall player who has good physical structure and long legs, played on the left flank. He often showed his dynamism during the offense, definitely was able to speed up the offensive play on his wing by his energy. Didn’t neglect his defensive duties, was really supportive for Tallinna Kalev’s defensive section. Could cover the passing lanes by the usage of his legs, intercepting the opposing passes. Quickness at the transitions was also typical of his play, after receiving the balls could turn into attacks immediately. Scored a wonderful ‘solo’ goal in the 77th minute – changing the standing to 3-1.

Dylan Sal-Al-Saller (JK Tallinna Kalev U21), midfielder born in 2007.

His play can be described mainly with mentioning the intensive pressing and the important ball winnings (on both teams’ halves). Dylan is a midfielder who rather played in the role of “box-to-box”, the high work rate of him was fairly useful in terms of the home team’s performance. Has good abilities to force the opposing players to make personal and/or technical mistakes. Also has good playmaking skills thus he was able to make creative passes for his teammates into the final third – even while they were on dynamic counter-attacking.

To FOLLOW also JK Tallinna Kalev U21 midfielder Aleksandr Šurõgin (2006); and Viimsi JK right-back Rasmus Laidvee (2006) and midfielder Rasmus Lode (2006).

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