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BOX SCORE: Reading United vs. RCNJ

By Andrew Diefenderfer, 06/29/21, 9:00AM EDT

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Can a 0-0 draw be exciting? The answer is yes.

It was as thrilling as 0-0 draws can get, but it ultimately ends in disappointment for Reading United, who are now mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. With 3 games still to play in the USL League 2 season for Reading, coach Casey Moore will still look for improvement from his players to finish the campaign on a good note. Last night’s 0-0 stalemate against Real Central NJ saw both teams get their fair share of great chances, but neither side were clinical enough to put one in the back of the net. It was a very bittersweet result for Reading United, but there was plenty to draw from this match to improve on for their next outing this Friday against Philadelphia Lone Star.

 

Here are the top 3 takeaways from our 0-0 draw to Real Central New Jersey:

 

Keep the New System

 

Last night saw Coach Moore transition to a 3-back system, inserting Penn State centerback Mason Deeds back into the starting XI for the first time since May 21st. The Field-Deeds-Partito centerback tandem saw Reading improve in building out from the back while solidifying the backline to limit RCNJ to just 6 total shots. The wingbacks, Zeke Zambrano and Mackie Sacarellos provided great width for the team to exploit, which stretched the field and created more space to operate through the middle. Central defensive midfielder Ryan Becher sat in the hole just above the centerbacks and helped create a low block in the defensive third and made it very difficult for RCNJ to generate chances through the middle of the pitch. The increased width also allowed Reading to get more numbers higher up the pitch when looking to attack, which gave Ike Hollinger, Jalen Weatherspoon and Jacob Gosselin plenty of opportunities to combine and create their own chances. The three forwards combined for 9 of the 13 total shots, a season-high for Reading United. Although it didn’t result in any goals, the 3-4-2-1 system clearly showed its benefits and Coach Moore should look to continue on with it to close out the season.

 

Increase Tempo / Keep the Ball on the Ground

 

A key to the match for Coach Moore was to switch the point of the attack throughout the match because of the width that Zambrano and Sacarellos were providing as wingbacks, but it didn’t always go according to plan. On more than a few occasions, a lofted ball was used to switch the field, which gave RCNJ too much time to quickly close down on Reading’s wingbacks, which often saw RU give up possession and gift the opposition a counter attacking opportunity. For passes to switch the point of attack from the middle of the pitch, Reading should look to increase the pace and tempo of the offensive build-up to allow those balls to be played on the ground, which would make life much easier for the target men: Zambrano and Sacarellos.

 

Initiate the High Press

 

For much of the USL League 2 season, Reading United have struggled to beat a defensive high press, most notably against full-throttle sides like West Chester United. The high press is an effective tactic to press high up the pitch to limit the opponent’s ability to build out of the back, often settling for a long ball to set up a 50/50 ball to hopefully regain possession. With Coach Moore’s new wingback system, Reading can now initiate a high press that can lead to the club dominating the proceedings of the game for longer durations of the match. Despite vast improvement, building out from the back has been a problem this season for Reading United, so why not press and win the ball back high up the pitch?

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