Tough to judge Lions’ shift in formations after only 1 game
Orlando City’s formation shifted at the start of its game against the Montreal Impact, with coach James O’Connor opting to utilize a four-man back line instead of the three-centerback formation he used during the Lions’ first two matches of the season.
Veteran midfielder Sacha Kljestan said the plan was to “catch Montreal and expose flaws in their game that we thought that we could expose.” Still, Kljestan thinks the Lions were at their best using the three-centerback formation the team deployed in the first two games.
Orlando City (0-1-2, two points) will work to get back on track in hostile territory when it plays the New York Red Bulls (1-0-1, four points) on Saturday at Red Bull Arena.
When Kljestan was asked if he felt the Lions were at their best when using three centerbacks, he responded, “For now, I think so, yes. I think it puts some of our players in a better position to succeed in different parts of the field.
“So yeah, I’m a fan of it. I really like the way we’ve employed it throughout the preseason and through the first two games of the season. Yeah, I do like it a lot.”
The Lions gave up two goals early against Montreal, which meant tactics didn’t count for much.
“Unfortunately, after going down 2-0 after 15 minutes, sometimes tactics lose their way a little bit because of desperation and things like that,” Kljestan said. “So it’s not really a great game to judge tactically, in my opinion. But I think for the most part, yes, we have a very good grasp on what [O’Connor] wants out of us tactically. And when we get the guys on the field, we all pretty much feel like we’re on the same page, which is very important.”
O’Connor did eventually switch back to a three-centerback formation against Montreal after subbing young attackers Josué Colmán and Santiago Patiño for centerback Shane O’Neill and left back Danilo Acosta. It was an attempt to put pressure on the Impact and it backfired. The double substitution left the Lions with a three-man back line of Sebas Méndez, Ruan and Carlos Ascues.
Orlando City gave up a third goal shortly after Colmán and Patiño came on. Kljestan said he took responsibility for that goal.
“I raised my hand and said to the group that goal is completely on me,” Kljestan said. “I made a mistake in the back third. I lost a bad ball in a bad spot and it cost us.
“But other than that we switched up things to get more attacking pieces on the field and really just tried to go after it. Unfortunately, we did not do well enough with our chances that we created.”
The Lions also managed to get a goal back after Patiño linked up with star striker Dom Dwyer.
“At the end, we’ve got players in positions because we’re throwing everything at them to try to get something,” O’Connor said. “When you’re 2-nil down after 16 minutes at home, the game [is] going to open up.
“Our choice then, at 2-nil down, is to sit and try to defend and hope that maybe you nick a set piece. Or you just open the game up and you come out and accept that you’re going to leave yourselves open to maybe conceding a few more goals, but you run the risk of trying to get some goals.”