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USL Insights – Off the Heater

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/07/17, 1:33PM EDT

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Opponents finding key to slowing down San Antonio's attack


Photo courtesy Darren Abate / San Antonio FC

San Antonio FC averaged more than two goals per game in its first seven games of the season, posting a 6-0-1 record to move into first place in the USL’s Western Conference. Over the past month, however, the side’s attack has slowed, recording only three goals in six games against USL opposition since the start of May.

There were some signs this slowdown may be coming; the club’s chance conversion rate was well above league average, at one point pushing 40 percent. But what’s also happened is SAFC’s opponents appear to have worked hard to slow down one of the keys over the club’s first six weeks of the season, winger Billy Forbes.

Forbes had six goals and three assists to earn the March/April Player of the Month Award, but hasn’t been on the score sheet since. One of the reasons for that has been the strategy opponents have utilized to try and keep Forbes pinned further back in his end. Over the past five league games, Forbes has recorded only 25 touches in opposing penalty areas, while recording 65 touches in his own half. There was only one game in that span, a 0-0 draw with Seattle Sounders FC 2 on May 13, that saw Forbes record more touches in the opposing penalty area than in his own half (7/6).

That disparity was brought into focus most brightly by San Antonio’s visit to the Swope Park Rangers on May 26, a game that SAFC emerged from with a 1-0 win, but only after absorbing wave after wave of pressure. Swope Park’s game-plan appeared predicated on working the ball down Forbes’ wing, with fullback Colton Storm and winger Nansel Selbol making Forbes not only work hard defensively, but also have to go further to get into the positions where he’s dangerous.

Billy Forbes, San Antonio FC
Touches vs. Swope Park Rangers, 5/26/17

Swope Park Rangers' Didic (55) & Doyle (66)
Passing Chart vs. San Antonio FC, 5/26/17

There have been indicators of this in other contests. Phoenix Rising FC also looked to push down the right side when it visited Toyota Field on May 20, pushing Kody Wakasa up the touchline to where the fullback recorded more than 20 touches in the San Antonio half. Sacramento used the double-team of Emrah Klimenta and Danny Barrera to press the right side in their visit at the start of May, with Barrera creating two scoring chances from open play down the right, and both Barrera and Klimenta working to deliver crosses.

The challenge now for San Antonio is what sort of adjustments it can find to get Forbes back into the positions up the field where he can provide the influence the side’s attack needs. The return of Cesar Elizondo should provide a boost, but SAFC will need greater production – and a greater willingness to bring the ball forward through central avenues via either Pecka or Michael Reed – to break the trap teams are currently setting them. 

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