WOEFUL TOM SAINTFIET'S TACTICS COST GAMBIA AGAINST ANGOLA

The Gambia's lost against Angola in the first leg of the world cup preliminary qualifiers, could only be laid at the doors of head coach Tom Saintfiet who for what earthly purpose put defensive security ahead of attacking intervention at home.

Tom Saintfiet, Gambia's head coach. Picture source GFF

It has been evident from the off that the visitors (Angola’s) defence were vulnerable to quick and direct attacking football. If Tom had been positive and played players at their rightful positions, perhaps the visitors would have had a nightmare at the independence stadium in Bakau judging by the second half performance of the host.

But Tom's decision of starting a natural centre back (Bubacarr Sanneh) in the midfield alongside Ebrima Sohna and the inexperience Sheriff Sinyan, does not just gave comfort to the visitors who controlled, dictate and play the first 45 minute as if they were the host, but scored a goal as well on 32 minutes when Wilson Pinto nodded home from a tight angle.

Two captain exchanging the badge - Picture source GFF

The recent form of the ‘Scorpion’ players has left the home supporters who filled up almost all the seats on every section of the stands with maximum hopes of their side securing a victory, but home nerves showed in the opening minutes when the Scorpions deployed ten men behind the ball, leaving centre forward Assan Ceesay in the lone strike position.

On rare occasions the home side try to push on in the first half, lone striker Assan Ceesay was playing well enough to cause serious discomfort to his markers, especially when he make the inroads into the box in the early minutes where he was tussle down by the visitors centre back and had a penalty appeal turned down by the referee.

The Gambia - Picture source GFF

The way a group of home players, first led by Ebrima Sohna and then captain Omar Colley surrounded the referee, shows some indication that Assan was caught, perhaps the referee feels it was too early (7minutes) to award a penalty, a decision greeted with boos by the scorpion fans.

That was not the only time Assan troubled the "Palancas Negras" defence as he made another move on the 25th minutes where he beats the goalkeeper but stumbled and fall down as he chase to finish off the ball into an empty net, and the ball runs out of play.

Up to that moment the Angolans were the far more composed side and they continued to play within themselves causing some threatening moves. Bartolomeu penetrates the right channel and cut inside the covering Omar Colley in the box who brought him down and the referee turned a blind eye to his penalty appeal. For reason the referee failed to award the penalty which looks even clearer, could be, he compensated the host for not calling the first.

Angola - Picture source GFF

Angolans with their well equipped midfield set up, were no match to the host in that department, it was the midfield the visitors used to dictate the game and midfielder Alfredo Kulumbe twice had dangerous long range strikes block in the traffic. Those attempts could have been troubling, had they reach Modou Jobe in Gambia's goal.

As it was Gambia stayed resolutely wedded to safety - first and finally had their lines breached after 32 minutes, when Lamin Jallow, goalkeeper Modou Jobe and left back Ebou Touray all err.

Lamin Jallow needlessly held an opponent which was the fourth time he deliberately pulled and opponent for no genuine reason and Alfredo Kulumbe whipped in the resulting set piece into the box, where Modou Jobe allowed the aerial to travel in his six-yard box and Ebou Touray who supposed to move with the arriving Wilson Pinto allowed Pinto to freely nod home from the tightest of angles. His team mates initially thought it was a side netting, but all ran for celebrations when they saw the ball in the net.

Angolan Manuel Luis charged by Assan (9) & Sohna (15) - Picture source GFF

Knowing his midfield set up was the fault in the first period Tom Saintfiet responded at the start of the second period by withdrawing Bubacarr Sanneh who was a total flop in his new role and replaced him with the lively Ebrima Colley. That substitution saw some tactical switches in the scorpions set up as Sohna who was as well useless in that number 10 role dropped back to his more accustomed position (defensive midfield), Musa Barrow played behind the centre forward and Ebrima Colley operates on the right channel of the host attack.

Ebrima’s introduction injects live in the play of the scorpions and they improve their urgency and possessing, which make the visitors look vulnerable as they seat deep trying to protect their lead.

Ebrima Colley - Picture source Facebook

Anytime the host lit top gear, the visitors struggled to cope. On the 53rd minutes Lamin Jallow really should have scored after Musa Barrow did well to skipped inside the opponents and cut in from the left to put him clear through, but Jallow's low kick was saved by the visitors goalkeeper Cabaca, who made another crucial save on the 63rd minute as he pushed Lamin Jallow's curl around the left hand side post.

The host really should have scored, but the efforts of Cabaca stood between them and their fortunes. Tom threw in all his three permitted substitution for a rescue mission but it was late.

Even though, Ebrima Colley had an acrobatic shot which was heading into the net saved, before Assan Ceesay had a shot which saw the spectators rose to their feet saved, as he runs behind the space in the left angle and fired in a strong angle shot which was spilled by the goalkeeper but Lamin Jallow’s reaction for a rebound was slow, and the defenders cover up to avert the danger and secured somewhat a deserve triumph.

Assan Ceesay - Picture source GFF

Blame the home side’s defeat on the poor approach and maybe the miss chances.With the performance displayed by Muhammed Mbaye who paired for the first time with Omar Colley at the defence for the host, players like Bubacarr Sanneh could soon lose a position in that lineup if they don't stand at the face of Tom, to tell him to stop using them in a new role which only triggered criticism for their performance.

With the host throwing the towel, failing to take advantage of the home support in the first leg, it will be interesting to see how Tom will line up in Luanda on Tuesday the 10th of September 2019 for the second leg, a tie set to decide who will advance to the group stage of the world cup qualifying rounds.