AA State Championship - Final

AA State Championship - Final
Osseo 4-1 St. Louis Park

I believe my game assessment was right on.

1. Technicals. Overall Osseo has an upperhand in skills in the middle and flanks.
Correct. Osseo three midfielders are extremely skilled and fast (except the right mid). They can take on 1-on-1 and win it most of the time. SLP has players with skills at midfield but speed was much slower.

2. Tacticals. They both play the same game plan by dominating the midfield and work into the box or shooting at the key. Whoever dominates the midfield will win the game. You'll have Hoang and Bah vs Lozancic and Johnson.
Correct. There's a big difference in how Osseo and SLP played the midfield and it's speed of game. Osseo plays through the midfield with speed and control while SLP is the same but much slower. Osseo attacks and penetrates quick and their midfielders get to attacking third very fast. They slow down there and work through the defensive zone. They take on 1-on-1 or use combination plays to get around defenders. Playing close to goal takes composure and skills. Defenders can't be too aggressive here or they'll pay the price with PK's. It doesn't matter how much possession time you have at midfield, it's how you use the possesion to create dangerous opportunities. This is where I feel many coaches have missed.

3. Physical. Size is about the same. Speed will be a big factor in favor of Osseo. Quickness favors Osseo. If Osseo can spring the attacks from midfield then SLP will be in trouble. Also Osseo plays bootball then they'll win the races.
Correct. In general Osseo is faster all around and in quickness as well. Osseo attackers play very close to last defender. This is where I believe Whitney Browne excels with his speed and goal scoring ability. One false move and it's a footrace.

4. Mental. Both are very determined. Osseo won't relax after scoring goals. They're scoring machine.
Correct. Osseo didn't even ease up after being up 2-1 3-1 4-1. What a scoring machine. SLP was able to keep up 3/4 of the game but got wore down at the end.

5. Defense. Even. Both can be erratic at times.
Correct. SLP first goal was due to miscommunication between GK and right defender and let attacker slipped through to pound in the header. Osseo goals came in SLP defense got confused in man-marking in the box.

6. Offense. Osseo is scoring machine. SLP has problem in scoring lately.
Correct. Let the score speaks for itself. SLP attackers didn't really pose much danger to Osseo defenders.

7. Coaching. Chato vs Hoang (assistant coach and not head coach Smith). Google them both and you'll see where they've been. Hoang has upperhand.
So so. I would say even now. Chato did his best but he could do so much with limited talent he has. Both teams have gone further than anyone had thought. Chato and Hoang have done a great job.

In general, I'm going with Osseo. They've been scoring 2-4 goals per game and coming back 1-goal down so you can't really suppress Osseo attacks. MG game proved that well when they put 10-man bunker defense when up by 1-0 and still got beat 2-1. Defense has to weather out the Osseo storms.
Correct. Once again, Osseo is a scoring machine. They don't know how to slow down. Most team would be in panic mode after got scored on in first 5-minutes. But they weren't even fazed. They came back and scored 4 unanswered goals. SLP couldn't pack the box 'cause they need to score hence more goals allowed.

St.Louis Park is not a scoring machine like Osseo. Their defense can be shaky under pressure. It showed in Apple Valley game. If Osseo get a jump in scoring then game is over. SLP must score first to stay in the game.
Correct. See previous points.