Scoutmania

Kristiansund achieved an important victory in Molde (0-1 the final result) after a good first half and by resisting Molde’s comeback. The home team dominated the ball possession in the second half of the match and created several chances which they did not convert. Both coaches trusted several young players to start the match and one of them scored the winning goal.

Molde, coached by Per-Mathias Høgmo in a 1-4-4-2 formation out of possession, was flexible in possession to manipulate the opposition defensive structure. Most of their attacks passed through their experienced playmaker Dæhli (4+1 in build up) and they tried to penetrate the opposition defensive line with their right winger Stenevik who started out wide to run in behind (see image below) on the contrary of their left winger Granaas who was often positioned in the half-space. Their striker Eikrem often dropped to receive the ball into feet while their central midfielder Breivik moved up to challenge the opposition back four.

They made two changes at half-time and changed the dynamics up front by bringing in Hestad and Berisha. Berisha attacked the back space with dangerous runs and created more space for the wingers to receive the ball between the lines. They put heavy pressure on the opposition defense with dangerous crosses and they earned a penalty which was saved by the tall and agile Kristiansund goalkeeper Adrian Sæther (62′).

Kristiansund, coached by Amund Skiri in a 1-4-3-3 formation, showed a solid defensive structure and a good organization and intensity in their pressure, especially in the first half. Their high pressing strategy on goal-kicks worked well. They locked onto the opposition central midfielders (man-marking) and forced the play towards their left side by activating their right winger to press the opposition GK after the first pass he received from the left centre-back (see their starting defensive positions in the image below).

They switched to a 1-5-3-2 formation out of possession to secure the result in the last part of the match and defended the box with numbers and resilience till the end of the match.

Here the player who stood out in this match:

Wilfred George Igor (Kristiansund BK), defensive midfielder born 2005.

Wilfred best attributes are in the defensive play. He stood out in his physical duels, tackles and interceptions. A key moment for him was when he supported the press before regaining possession of the ball from Molde’s last defender to go and score the goal which decided the match. On the ball he struggled when he received the ball in tight areas and he often played backwards and sideways.

To FOLLOW also Molde left winger Sondre Granaas (2006) and Kristiansund right winger David Tufekcic (2004).