Derby Normand VIII

The momentum has firmly exchanged grasps, with Le Harve looking much more dangerous than in the first half where they could only create a few chances. Lens was forced into their half, with them failing to break Le Harve's high-pressing game despite their best efforts to play the ball out from the back.

Lens manager Cardot could see Le Harve making desperate attempts in search of the goal. As for his Lens, they could do nothing but keep their players drawing deeper and deeper within their half to help retain the ball. Lens midfielder trio has long dropped deeper and deeper to help regain the ball, reacting to their team's ball easily stolen before they reach the centre line. Cardot checked the match time, it has been less than 10 minutes into the second half and Lens have not once bypassed Le Harve's aggressive pressing. They have not even worked the ball into the Le Harve's box, let alone them having a shot.

Le Harve had now adjusted their pressing. Le Harve was now more direct, their game had always been direct, but their entire defensive strategy has changed, changed in that they are no longer withdrawing deep, but stealing the ball the moment they lost it. Le Harve was now much quicker in their movement. The sky and navy blues team was clearly giving everything they had. They attacked relentlessly on all sides, every player in the Le Harve front line would have a go at Les backline, all taking dangerous shots to the Lens goal.

Sébastien: "The pace is really high at the moment..."

Cardot had noticed that the wingers, Chevalier (on the left) and Eze (on the right) had started to press better, much better. No matter which side of the pitch Lens has the ball the two wingers would be extremely disciplined to tuck into the midfield to protect the middle of the pitch. And the winger closest to the left/right-back would immediately close them down.

The manager's eyes closed as he questioned why they couldn't find the ball into the midfield, but he realised his preconception of Le Harve's formation was wrong, completely wrong. Instead of thinking of Le Harve's wingers as wide players, they were central, much more central than a traditional winger. With them being further up the pitch, but tucked into the midfield.

The Le Harve side is running a box midfield. Not a diamond, A box. The midfield battle was never a 3 vs 2, but a 3 vs 4. For every player in the Lens midfield that had the ball, two Le Harve players would be aggressively positioning themselves to press, depending on the shape of the opposing player. The midfield can fluidly change their positions and who they are marking. Even more troubling is how fluid the 2 inside wingers are, with them dribbling dangerously and direct towards the goal.

Cardot was confused. Wingers? Le Harve wasn't playing any wingers. Chevalier and Eze weren't playing as wingers, they are functioning as... wide-attacking midfielders?

Then Cardot realised it.

Chevalier and Eze are not wingers, they are outside attacking midfielders. They aren't depending on the wingers to attack down the wings, they are pushing up and releasing the limits placed on where they could play, releasing them in the centre of the pitch and letting them run wild.

This was an absolute revelation. Le Harve hasn't played a single pass backward since the restart, instead playing more direct passes towards the Lens goal, with them regularly dispossessing the visiting team's attempts to play out from the back.

Cardot was fully taken aback, but none more so than the Le Harve tactical coach, who is still left speechless, alternating between gasping at the scenes on the field and staring in a baffled manner at one of his coaching junior sitting quietly on the technical area. Everyone in the team knows inexplicably how talented Chevalier is, and everyone is expecting him to be the next golden boy to be promoted to the first team. But this young man, not even in his 30s, has completely changed the match with a simple change in formation, and a few subtle words to the players. If Chevalier is talented, then Kai is a monster. A genius.

Suddenly, the play breaks down. Le Harve steals the ball moments after Lens was awarded a thrown-in. Chevalier and Eze are instantly moving towards the near post. Eze, not as technically complete as the star of the team, but in an unpredictable manner, performed a series of touch-passes, slight turns, and small feints to combine with his teammates. Eze also uses the pitch, twisting and turning on the spot to provide an attacking threat in all directions. His touch is precise and agile, but simple and effective. The combination of Eze and Chevalier seemingly revitalised him, with him constantly looking for the back of the net with his aggressive runs. Chevalier had space to run into, but being less physically explosive, the player instead opted for flick-ons and through balls. Attempting to combine with Eze on the right, and Leroy and Pape slightly in front of him.

Chevalier's playmaker play is full of sharp touches and deft movements. Receiving the ball at his feet, he uses the space around him with a sense of confidence and easiness. Where many other players would dribble towards the corner flag and possibly be dispossessed by one of the full-backs and wingers doubling up on him, he shows patience and well-placed passes to keep the attack going.

Each time Le Harve and Eze combine with Leroy, and Pape, the attack grows in pace and momentum. If Chevalier needs to quickly move out to the flank or to cut inside, he soon realised the left striker, the tall Pape would not hesitate to make suitable movements that best suit Chevalier's actions. If Chevalier decides to pull out wide, Pape would drop deep to offer a passing outlet. If Chevalier wants to attack centrally and dribble against the back-line, Pape would instead pull wide so Right-Back Jason Henders couldn't close down the winger.

Sébastien already witnessed many surprises during this match, but the entirety of the second half is a surprise on its own. The Le Harve looked entirely different, being a different beast on its own. Is this still the same team that was being run into the mud in the first half? "Salmon receives the ball to feet, closed down by Pape, but the centre-back lays the ball off to Henders, who is challenged for the ball by Mauger Chevalier. Henders lays a first-time pass to Vivien. BUT! the midfielder has been dispossessed by Le Harve midfielder Rivera."

Commentator Sébastien surprised the viewers by momentarily speaking in English. He has often done this commentating in French, but in this game, he shows his potential and enthusiasm for the game but forgot the native language of his audience. On this particular match, he commented on Le Harve's brilliant transition plays: "Eze receives the ball from Crescenzo Rivera. The right winger is in acres of space, but Guillory is quick on his feet to deny any space."

Mtupeni Eze, a footballer of African descent, has been kept quiet for the large majority of the match, being consistently shadowed by the back-line and goalkeeper. His best scoring opportunity of the match was from a header. Which came from a Le Harve corner from Chevalier's kick. Eze ran with the ball, and although the ball was at risk of being stolen by Guillory, the winger found freedom similarly shared by Chevalier. His large engine and stamina kicked up as he unleashed his speed to the fullest, dribbling full speed to goal, but closed down by Left-Back Guillory. The winger eyed his opponent and was determined to prove his worth after being beaten by his marker for the large amounts of the match.

"Eze attacking the backline, Guillory tightly marking..."

The right winger, with his stronger left foot, is determined to cut inside the pitch where more space is offered, he ran with speed as he approaches the box. The two strikers can keep the defenders at bay and the attack gradually becomes more dangerous every passing second. Cardot walked agitated down the sideline, he saw the play occurring down the back. "STOP HIM GUILLORY!"

The winger finally got the ball and charged with pace, but the ball couldn't find its way into the net. Guillory, having the courage and maturity he has, expertly approached the attacker on his left side, which forced Eze into a stalemate as Guillory blocked the direction where he wanted to go.

Marley was encouraged by their desire in the match, but he couldn't help but feel frustrated at yet another brilliant attempt that was fully stopped by Lens' solid backline. The manager patted his belly as he comforted himself, all the whilst planning his next encouraging words to his players.

Lanier however upon seeing the Lens Left-Back leaving the backline to stop Eze was shocked, sure that stops Eze from being a threat, but... what about the player behind him? Kai.... where in the world had you thought of this formation?

Sébastien: "Guillory stopped Eze on his feet, another chance that has gone missing... WAIT! Eze passes the ball to Benoit Leroy, who has pulled out wide and is attacking the space where Guillory has vacated!"

That's it! Marley's eyes shined in a bright light as he realised the tactical supremacy of their team's counterattacks. Because their Wingers are drawn much more central, closing down the likes of Eze and Chevalier would demand the opposition Full-Backs to leave their defensive lines to engage them. However, because Le Harve is running a 2 Striker System, the instant a Full-Back has left their line, the striker nearest to that side can immediately exploit that space!

Zakharova was left surprised by Leroy's running down the flanks and was hesitant in following Le Harve's No. 9 movement. The Centre-Back was left in two minds as he questioned if he should vacate his central position. But if he follows Leroy down the wings, there would only be Salmon in the middle of the pitch. No, Zakharova can only watch Leroy dribbling down the wings as he remained in the back line, with him and Salmon both marking the No. 30 Pape to stop the obvious goal threat.

Defenders are expected to be invisible and anonymous figures, working efficiently and to the best of their ability without getting the focus and the limelight. However, the consequence of making one misplay can ruin a team's day and consequently lead to the game slipping out of one's hands. Marley's team however remained focused and locked in a unified game.

"Leroy running down the right wing, Pape marked by Salmon and Zakharova, so the striker plays the ball to the feet of Chevalier..."

The Left Winger had been the star of the show, but his attempt to receive the ball doesn't go unchallenged. With Defensive Midfielder Toro not leaving Chevalier any space. The French Left Winger managed to knock the ball into the path of Bernard Pape, who although he is marked by two Centre-Backs, cleverly came deep and played with his back to the goal. Salmon can only watch helplessly as the giant striker shielded the ball with his large physique, who performed a quick 1-2 with Chevalier to beat his marker.

Everyone in the stadium knows how lethal the youth sensation is at his absolute best, and that is exactly what youth teams fear when he is playing for his club. But despite the knowledge, everyone could only watch, gasp, sign, and prey as they witness the high-tempo game. Sébastien: "After this play, Chevalier has beaten his marker and is in the penalty box, the other full-back on the line is trying to stay at his level and in a position to stop the goalscorer from dribbling into the box. Salmon wished to shuttle over, but he is hands tied with Pape playing up front."

The left side of Le Harve is once again under the spotlight, but the moment Chevalier has beaten the defence to get into the penalty box, the defence seemed prepared to leave their opponents alone and tackle Chevalier just before he shoots.