After the Kalle Karlsson era, a new phase is underway. Anton Rubin will now leave his mark on Västerås – and the meeting with Daejeon was a clear measure of value. The match was supposed to be played yesterday but was moved due to bad weather and played instead on Sunday at 12 noon. The surface was grass (not quite perfect), the ball bounced a little strangely and it affected the pace of the passing game – especially for a team that wants to roll calmly and methodically.
Västerå’s structure: back three + wingbacks, but difficult to get the game going centrally
Västerås started with Fagerström in goal. Three centre-backs: Nsabiyumva central, Tagesson on the left and Filip Bonde on the right. Wingbacks: Ljungqvist and Gefvert. Central Ring and Diagne. Forward: Magnusson, Gunnarsson and Taonsa.
The idea was immediately apparent: calm ball possession, it should be rolled from “foot to foot”, and a first phase where you roll well in the back line without stressing. But the problem came in the next step. When the ball was going up in the central area to the defensive midfielder/play distributor, Västerås rarely found the right way. Daejeon pressed in a way that meant that Västerås was often forced out towards the edge early – and when they still tried to play centrally, they were blocked.
Daejeon takes hold of the match: corners, edge advantage and a six that rules
Daejeon looked confident with the ball and played quite easily through Västerås’ pressure in the beginning. Already within six minutes they had created two corners – and the second was really dangerous: screwed in and cleared on the goal line. In their attacking play, Daejeon built methodically: centre-back-centre-back, building up on their dribbling six that controlled the game even with pressure at the back, and then further out towards the edge. Above all, their left side came through several times: short combinations, one-twos and then deep passes where the threat became clear.
Here their way of playing becomes extra clear: Daejeon formed in a clear 4-3-3 with two widening wingers, a lone striker and three inside midfielders behind. The key was their “six”, who often dropped down and took responsibility in the build-up – he looked calm even when he was stressed and had a player behind him. And when Daejeon felt that it was not possible to play out on the ground, they switched immediately: then they hit longer balls to their big nine, who was very good at receiving and holding the ball. In those duels, Västerås had to struggle, and Nsabiyumva had a tough time in several of them.
When Daejeon could not play out, they sometimes chose a longer ball on their big nine – and there Västerås had problems in the duels, especially centrally. At the same time, it stood out that Bonde solved several situations well when deep balls came from the right towards the striker: struggle, toil and yet control.
Västerås had a few attempts at an established attack, often via the left where the striker dropped and turned up – but then too little happened. The combinations did not come, and he was often left alone against the entire back line. Västerå’s principle was visible in the build-up: three backs down, two central midfielders looking for the ball – but centrally it stopped. And the bouncy grass didn’t make matters any easier: first touch and passing weight became a recurring concern.
Västerås works its way in – but the match becomes a battle and it locks with the ball
In the first 13 minutes, Daejeon was clearly the most offensive, but around minute 19, Västerås entered the match better. The press became more attentive, especially when Daejeon wanted to turn quickly to the edges. Västerås also got their best chances when they won the ball centrally and converted: in the 23rd minute Ring wins the ball, plays against Taonsa, and after a quick combination the striker gets two finishes – both saved by the goalkeeper.
However, Daejeon continued to be sharper in creating finishes. They had a nice attack from the right where the winger, instead of hitting, shot at the first post – but Fagerström was there to save. At the 25th minute, there was a bit of a scuffle at a Daejeon corner where a player fell and wanted a penalty, but the referee refused. Västerås also cheats on one occasion in the return after losing the ball offensively, but Nsabiyumva stands for a fine tackle that saves the whole situation. Soon after: new central ball drop, new Daejeon mode – and another block by the same Nsabiyumva
Around minute 30 there were more duels and fighting. Västerås still had a hard time leading the match: the first phase could look okay, but then it became stiff and sometimes almost idealess when a player dropped and you didn’t have a clear next step. Daejeon also began to go more and more on the surface behind Västerås wingbacks: when the wingback moved up, the surface was there to play into.
Even though the game was interrupted, there was a clear reminder of Västerå’s potential when things go fast: in minute 42 they find an edge, get a cross and a header outside. The sequence looked good – but at half-time it was 0-0.
Second half: the same pattern – and a decision on penalty + return
No changes from the start. Daejeon continued with aggressive, collective pressure. Their trio at the front closed and shaded central areas nicely, which meant that Västerås in practice had to look for the edge all the time – in the middle they rarely got past. Västerås’ press was also good in periods, and Tagesson and Ljungqvist stood out with enormous running volumes. Much of the half ended up on Västerås’ left wing, both offensively and defensively.
In minute 55, Västerås comes in from the left, plays in centrally to Ring for a shot from outside – block and corner. But the corner in minute 56 becomes dangerous in the other direction: quick counterattack, one-on-one, and Diagne slides in with a tackle without the ball – a real sacrifice after Västerås neglected the job home.
The decision came in minute 62. Daejeon rolls up on the left, turns over to the right and hits a cross that is headed away. Nsabiyumva dives in to stop the ensuing shot – the ball touches his hand and the referee points to the penalty spot. Fagerström saves (dives down to the left), but leaves the return and on the return 1-0 is pushed in. In fairness to Daejeon’s offensive advantage, although the way (penalty + rebound) obviously feels sour.
Västerås made three changes in minute 65: Sibelius, Hellisdal and Wernersson in. Västerås got more pressure, especially from the left: in minute 69, the winger turns in and shoots, and Daejeon’s goalkeeper is forced to parry for a corner. Daejeon responded with a triple substitution in the 70th minute.
Minutes 71–72 Västerås’ best pressure came after the deficit: quick attack from the left, ball to the far side where Sibelius gets a good shot that is saved; the return is shot again, hands are shouted but the referee does not want to blow. Västerås continues, gets a cross and a header that doesn’t really turn out to be dangerous – but they clearly showed that they are dangerous when things go fast and you change. For Västerås, which is an artificial grass team at home in Sweden, this is also useful training: natural grass requires different timing, and this pitch was not of top quality either.
In the 75th minute, Daejeon slightly changed the way they played without the ball: they dropped into a midblock, basically gave Västerås the ball and waited for mistakes. Västerås got a lot of lateral roll and the team became still. When Daejeon then stepped up again in minute 77, it was immediately apparent that Västerås did not enjoy “controlling with the ball” under pressure: they kept wide, took in centrally, were pressured and lost the ball. In minute 78 another Västerås substitution came: Diallo entered.
The match continued to be a corner match. Västerås received a corner in the 79th minute that dipped in front of Bonde, but he couldn’t get there and the ball bounced out. Towards the end, Rubin was very loud and noticeably annoyed: in the 80th minute, he wanted to see the team push up and “push” when Daejeon had the ball.
Daejeon continued to press centrally with their three offensive players close together as a team and all the focus was to close the middle. At the same time, Västerås was stubborn in trying to play through the middle, and lost the ball time and time again there. Only in the 83rd minute came a really nice sequence where Västerås played out of the pressure: centre-back out to a widening right wing-back, into the center on one, further forward – conversion. But the deep ball was too steep and hard.
In the 85th minute came a sequence that says a lot about Västerås’ fine aggressive style and transitions: Nsabiyumva wins the ball aggressively, hits long, Västerås loses the ball but immediately Diagne steps up, applies pressure and wins the ball back. You roll on quickly, find an overlap on the right to a good position, but the finish goes high over. The modes were there, but the sharpness was too low.
Sibelius was clearly the fittest of the subs and in the 88th minute he gets a shot off that is saved. The end was a chaotic series of corners: Daejeon corner around 90, blocked, conversion for Västerås via Sibelius to the right with a cross, new corner and then another Daejeon counterattack with a cross that is cleared the next skew, Dejeon’s shot and corner are blocked in minute 92. On one of the corners, Nsabiyumva is close to an own goal but clears up but he was also very good in the air at the end.
The match ends: 1–0.
5 things to take away from the match
It was very difficult to play through the middle
Västerås wanted to roll calmly and methodically from the backline, but as soon as the ball went up into the central area, it often locked up. You rarely found that vital link in the middle that could turn things around and drive the game forward. Daejeon also closed the middle well with its pressure, which meant that Västerås had to repeatedly look for the edges. When they still tried to play centrally, it was easy to lose the ball and Daejeon got new attacks right away.
The pitch was a clear factor – bouncy and more difficult to get flow
The grass did not look to be in the best condition. The ball bounced and it affected both passing quality and first touch. That makes a big difference, especially for a team that wants to play on the ground with control. When the pitch doesn’t help you, it becomes harder to play out of pressure, harder to time combinations – and the match becomes more jerky.
The vulnerability on the edges was apparent – especially behind the wingbacks
When Västerås wingbacks moved up, there was often a surface behind them to play on. Daejeon felt aware of that and often sought those spaces, both by getting around and by turning games quickly. Västerås had to defend very far back against their own goal and ended up several times in situations where they had to block shots, deflect crosses and clear their own box.
Nsabiyumva and Diagne deserve praise in a tough match picture
Nsabiyumva was responsible for several important blocks and interventions, and he was also strong in the air at the end when there were very fixed situations and crosses. He had to struggle in the duels, but he gave the team several “saves” that kept the match alive. Diagne should also be lifted: he worked hard centrally and contributed with presence on a surface where Västerås had difficulty establishing the game. In a match where a lot was not right, their efforts were important.
The counterattacks were Västerås’ clearest threat – when the tempo picked up, it became dangerous
Västerås looked best when they won the ball and went forward quickly. Then those sequences came with speed: one pass, two passes, out on the edge and into the box or finish. They created pressure at times, especially when they had quick attacks after winning possessions. The problem was that it didn’t come often enough. When Västerås would instead play the match at a slower pace, it was easy for sideways passes and players who stood still – and then it became difficult to create sharp chances.
Worth a look
