Sky Blue FC lost 0-1 in their 2018 debut to host team the North Carolina Courage. While Denise Reddy’s side demonstrated strong possession, a keen one-touch passing game, and a fairly organized defensive shape (at least for the first sixty minutes or so), they didn’t threaten on goal often enough to get on the board, and the Courage finally broke down their defense in second-half stoppage time to win the game.
Width is key
Curiously for a 4-3-3 formation, Sky Blue’s fullbacks weren’t involved in the attack at all, rarely getting much past the halfway point. Given the Courage’s offensive potency, with much of that coming from the flanks, it could have been a strategic move on Reddy’s part to keep Christina Gibbons and Mandy Freeman back for cover. After all, most rebuilt teams typically start with their defensive shape and work their way up, and no one is denying Sky Blue’s defense last season was atrocious. …
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