GAME 4 RECAP: Purple Rain

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HoundsvLouisville042016

Going into this game I felt a draw was probably the best case scenario, especially when facing the top team in the league. If I would’ve woken up this morning and saw the 2-2 score line, I would’ve been pretty happy. Unfortunately I watched the game, and the manner in which the Hounds got the draw has left me very frustrated.

Most of the match the Hounds were playing reactionary soccer. There was very little possession or attacking pressure. For the most part Louisville got to do what they wanted. The Hounds never appeared to be playing to win, but playing to not lose. Having a pair of 2-2 draws so close to each other is great juxtaposition. In Toronto the game was back and forth with great chances from both sides. The Hounds were able to pressure Toronto and had plenty of scoring chances. We came out of that match feeling pretty good. Complete opposite here. Look at the stats Louisville put out after the match-

Complete dominance by Louisville. The Hounds possession is probably a little generous too.

Probably the worst of it was the fact the Hounds were up a man and up a goal for the final 15 minutes. Instead of asserting themselves with that advantage they let Louisville free reign to attack attack attack. We were up a man and could barely get the ball past midfield. When has bunkering ever worked for the Hounds? How many times did we seem them try to do it last season and fail? Why did Louisville scoring in the 85th minute to tie it up (again) seem inevitable?

One of the few bright moments was the first goal from Parkes. Four guys attacking the box, supporting each other. Beautiful one touch passing, keeping the ball on the ground. A cool finish from Parkes. This is what we want to see! This is the Dutch style Steffens talks about. When the Hounds have played like this, keeping the ball on the ground and making short crisp passes, they’ve looked really good. So why do they spend 2/3 of the game just whipping the ball up to Hertzog, who’s usually alone on an island, and hoping for the best? Yeah it worked out to draw the PK for the second goal last night, but most of the time it’s a quick way to give up possession. It seems like the Hounds turned into a counter-attack team in the off season and forgot to tell everyone.

When the team is on a run like this it’s tough as a supporter. I hate writing negative posts. It’s frustrating to see a team you know is better than this struggle. It’s frustrating to have yet another bad start to the season where we have to dig ourselves out from the bottom. We love this team. We want to see them do well.

At the end of the day a point is a point and the Hounds haven’t lost on the road yet. We have to remember its only game 4, and we have 26 to go. Even if we got it in a dissatisfying way, at the end of the season it’s a result that could have a big impact. Having two games in a week is rough but it allows us to not dwell on the draw for very long. The Hounds are on the road again this Saturday, taking on the Charleston Battery in Charleston. Kickoff is at 7:30. Hopefully it’s dry.

#UNLEASH

ISAVesty

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