Soccer Academy of America

Presents:

U.S.A. - SOCCER Dr. Victor Stanculescu

FINAL 2009 MLS

“GALAXY LOS ANGELES”: 3
VS
“REAL SALT LAKE”: 5

22.11.2009
 Galaxy – Real Salt Lake the 2009 MLS – Cup: 4-5 (penalties)
Authors:
Dr. Victor Stanculescu-Coaches Without Frontiers: FIFA-Instructor

General considerations:

1. The final game of MLS 2009 CUP has been a good game, between two of the best teams of
the MLS – American Fotbal/ Soccer League.

2. To get insight of the game is very difficult because the teams and the game were from almost
all points of view equals, except “Penalties”, considered by many coaches around the world “a
simple formality, lottery, hazard” (but the reality is another, just because FOTBAL (SOCCER), at
the beginning of the 21st Century, is SCIENCE (made by Intellectual – coaches), Fotbal is ART
(made by the super-star players) and FOTBAL is BUSINESS (Made by the performance s of
Coaches and Players in official Competitions)!

3. During the history of the World Cups, as well as for the National championships and cups, the
recent World Cup U-20, in Egypt and U-17, in Nigeria –on 2009, many teams were out from the
competitions just because the same…PENALTIES!

3. According to the world and our personal observation and studies, we are convinced that the
Penalties are a very technical and scientific strategic aspect of professional coaches and players!
 Hypothesis of the official game “Intentional Observation”:
1. What is the value of the 2 best teams of 2009, MLS meeting in the cup-final 2009?

2. What are main three groups of any football value game, club, and national FA value?

2.1. Qualities,
2.2. Latent (Unprepared capacities); and
2.3. Weaknesses

3. What’s the value of American MLS Professional Football/soccer comparative to the other
football professional National Football Schools (participants of the World Cups)

4. This is another Professional Football/ Soccer Coaches without Frontiers technical and
scientific HOMEOWRK exercises.
 RESULTS

N MENTAL - Main factors Gala- RSL Observations

sxy
1 Game Intelligence 5 6 Creative
2 Emotional Intelligence 4 6 Stress
3 Football Game Creativity 4 5 Strategy
TOTAL 13 17
N PHYSICAL FACTOR GX RL Observations
Passing long ball + fight 6 6 No group
2 Dribbling – only ½ 5 5 No skills
3 Shoot 4 7 No good
TOTAL 18 18

N SKILLS FACTOR FOR PLAYING ATTACK GX RL Observations

Passing long ball + fight 6 6 No group
2 Dribbling – only 1/2 5 5 No skills
3 Shoot 4 7 No good
TOTAL 18 18
N PRINCIPLES OF PLAYING IN ATTACK GX RL Observations
1 Switching Defense-Attack 6 6 No sure
2 Building Attacks 7 7 Slow
3 Finishing Attack 4 4 To Fast?
TOTAL 17 17

PRINCIPLES OF PLAYING IN DEFENSE GX RL Observations

1 Switching from Attack-Defense 6 6 Good
2 Building Dense Methods 7 7 Difficult
3 Stopping the Opponent 5 5 No skills
TOTAL 18 18

N PRINCIPLES OF SET PLAYS GX RL Observation

1 Corners 4 4 No good
2 Free Kicks 4 4 No good
3 Penalties 3 6 No good
TOTAL 11 14
N GAME’ STRATEGIES GX RL Observations
1 How to play at 0-0 5 5 Fight
2 Strategies in Attack 4 4 Hazard
3 Strategies in Defense 5 5 Hazard
TOTAL 14 14

N SUPER – STARS GAME’S CONTRIBUTIONS GK RL Observations

1 Mental support- team 3 5 Tired
2 Anaerobe Capacity? 4 5 Limited
3 Roll-Models 3 5 Wrong
TOTAL 10 15

N REFEREES’ CONTRIBUTION TO THE GAME GX RL Observations

1 Referee value 6 6 without
2 Referees’ intentions? 7 7 Naïve
3 Changed the result? 6 6 NO!
TOTAL 19 19
N COACHES /CONTRIBUTION TO GAME GX RL Observations
1 Preparation before game 4 4 NON
2 Reading the game & lead 3 4 NON
3 Extra-time + penalties 2 5 NON
TOTAL 9 13

Nr. 10-Main game’s factors PROFILE G’alxy Real Observations

1 Mental 13 17 30 = 4
2 Physical 18 18 36 = 2
3 Skills 18 18 36 = 2
4 Playing in Attack 17 17 34 = 3
5 Playing in Defense 18 18 36 = 2
6 Playing Set Plays 11 14 25 = 5
7 Game’ Strategies 14 14 28 = 3
8 Referee 19 19 38 = 1
9 Super-Stars 10 15 25 = 5
10 Coaches’ Strategies 9 13 22 = 6
TOTAL 141 169
 DYAGNOSIS (The game’s results)
1.The BEST QUALITIES OF THE GAME:
N Main factors Points Place Observations
1 Referees 38 1 Laws
2 Physical 36 2 Timing
2 Game’ Skills 36 2 Creative
2 Playing in Defense 36 2 Skills
TOTAL 146
2.LATENT QUALITIES (Unprepared Capacities)
N Main factors Points Place Observations
3. Playing in Attack 34 3 3 speed
3. Game’ Strategies 34 3 Learn
4. Mental 30 4 Must
TOTAL 98
3. WEAKNESSES OF THE GAME:
N Main factors Points Place Observations
5 Referees 25 5 Laws-of-game
5 Physical 25 5 Timing
6 Game’ Skills 15 6 Creative
TOTAL 65
Plan-Program-2010
1. Continuing to develop “the main qualities of the game”;
2. Developing and preparing “the latent- unprepared game’s capacities”;
3. Evaluating, diagnosing and special plan-programming “the weaknesses of the
game”, as the main goals for 2010! (If the coaches changed or continue the activity for
next year)!
Final Considerations:
This is just a professional football/ soccer professional exercises for the Coaches
Without Frontiers;
This is also, the first step into professional process of learning, developing and
perfecting in the same time:
1. The coach’ strategies;
2. The Team’s preparation &
3. The Players & Coaches’ Professionalization
Also, this is a scientific and technical professional activity a mandatory condition of
performance for any National Coaching School, or Professional Coaches’ performance
activity.
The most important aspect of this particularly official game is that the teacher is THE
GAME, and all of us, learning from the final game of the 2009, CUP MLS.
For Coaches without Frontiers, this is another INDIVIDUAL COACHES’ PERSONAL
PROFESSIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION 2009, PROGRAM-PROCESS.
Annexes:

The penalty is a very technical and scientific football skills and game’ strategy;

But the most important and difficult element is the Mental factor, the Coefficient of
Emotion for the result of the shoot/penalty and the social and sport implication if miss
the chance to score, a personal prestige, v. important for all players (value, age,
gender, etc)

So, the penalty if one of the difficult technical and scientific football official game’
skills!

Please, following the penalties and will find out that the penalty has nothing with the
number of joggling the players are doing outside the game! This is the STRATEGY THE
COACHES PREPARED THE PSIHOLOGICAL STRESS.

Galaxy lost the chance through players’ nr. 3 and 4 and the last to shoot, no. 7!

(Nr. 4 being the best football players of US, which … unfortunately…missed)!?

 GALAXY LOS ANGELES Vs. REAL SALT LAKE: 3-5
MLS, CUP - 2009 FINALS: 22-11-2009, PENALTIES?
120

100

80
Galaxy-LA
60
Real S.Lake
40 Column1

20

0
shoot 1 shoot 2 shoot 3 shoot 4 shoot 5 shoot 6 shoot 7
• In the next drawing we can follow the psychological war, between the two teams: - Please, following
the shoot nr. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Comparing the teams for each of the 7 penalties;
- Than, we can following the direction of shooting: left or right of the goalkeeper;
- The coaches who can get the VIDEO CLIP of the penalties can get insight of the details as:
- The player’s attitude from coming, getting the ball, the psychological exchange between the goalkeeper
and the shooter, all v. important.
- The direction shooting with left or right foot, speed to the ball, confidence, power in shoot….
- In the same time, the mind and the scientific and psychological strategies of the GOALKEEPERS, a very
special and very interesting strategies making this skill, one of the most interesting and important
game skill & game-strategy!
 GALAXY shoot on Real Salt Lake: 4-5 REAL SALT LAKE shoot on GALAXY LA: 5-4

1-0 1-1
Shot Goal Gk Shot Goal
1 GOAL 1 GOAL

2-1 2-2
Shot to late GK=goaL Shot to late = goal
2 GOAL 2 GOAL

2-2 Shot 2-2

Shot
3
3 STOP BALL = NO GOAL NO STOP BALL = NO GOAL NO

2-2 Shot 2-3

Shot ndonovan - OUT GOAL
4
4
o NO Goal

3-3 Shot 3-3

Shot GOAL STOP BALL
5
5 GOAL NO

4-3 Shot 4-4

Shot GOAL - GOAL
6
6 GOAL GOAL

4-4 4-5
Shot STOP = NO GOAL Shot GOAL & WINNER
7 7
NO GOAL
 DEAR COACHES WITHOUT FRONTIERS:
1. The mathematics of the Football Game, is simple:
1.1. The Official Game is developing effective time to play; NON STOP, for + or – 5’: 60 minutes;
1.2. The official Game is developing SET PLAYS (THE BALL IS STOPED) for + or – 5’: 30 minutes.

2. The immediately question to the fellow coaches is “How many minutes from 60’-90’-120’ from the
training sessions are you spend on NON STOP ball training and HOW MUCH FOR SET PLAYS!?

3. For the kids, as well as for the professionals, the common sense of the game was forced us to
Establish (according to the 3-DIMENSIONAL FOOTBALL SYSTEM), TO COVER THE FOLLOWING
GAME’SKILLS:
3.1. For Playing in Attack skills, we have: 1. PASSES; 2. DRIBBLINGS & SHOOTS;
3.2. For Playing in Defense skills, we have : 1. Challenge/Pressing2. Interception & 3. Tacking;
3.3. For Playing in Attack or/and Defense, for Set Plays, we have: 1. Free kick; Corner & Penalty

4. So, no body is asking us, what did you do in training. To teach, coach and prepare mentally , physically
and skills/game strategies, to win!?

5. We made this technical note, just to remember everyone that FOOTBALL AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
21st CENTURY, is:
5.1. SCIENCE (MADE BY THE COACHES & THEIR SUPPORT STAFF);
5.2. ART (made by the super-star players, prepared by the professional coaches) and;
5.3. BUSINESS (made by the Coaches and Players) performances…

Dr. Victor Stanculescu

FIFA-Instructor.
 Dear Coaches without Frontiers.
A short professional story will give you more explanation why, the PROFESSIONAL COACHES
MUST ACCEPT TO BE INTELECTUAL FOOTBALL “MASTER-COACHES”?
During 1977-1983, I have been working with the Romanian Football Federation, as EDUCATIONAL COACHES DIRECTOR +
The National Team Assistant Coach to Stefan Kovacs, Angelo Niculescu & Valentin Stanescu, and together with Dr. D-tru
Tomescu and Physiotherapist Parcea, Goalkeeper Coach: Ion Voinescu, AND MYSELF, as the Responsible with the
Psychology, Sociology, Physiology, Fitness, Evaluating, Diagnosing and Pan-Programming the Sport Estate , ETC…
After this period, for 2 years, 1983-1984, I have been working with STEAUA BUCHAREST, in the same capacities;

They were two goalkeepers, but, two of the best in the country, VASILE IORDACHE & HELMULTH DUCADAM, THE LAST
ONE, HAS BEN - THE HERO FROM Barcelona final for European Club Champion 1966, when he STOPS - 4 penalties and
STEAUA BUCHAREST WON THE EUROPEAN CUP, because of PENTALTIES, AGAINST THE SAME SUPERB BARCELONA!

This story WAS NOT happened in the world of performance football! And the question for the professional coaches were:
“GOALKEEPER OF STEAUA BUCHAREST VS. BARCELONA, Stops - 4 Penalties and won the European cup-1966!
1. Simple, this player is coming from a GERMAN COMMUNITY, from Romania, and has a superb DISCIPLINE OF LIFE;
2. The Steaua’s Goalkeeper “HELMUTH DUCADAM” has been an exceptional personality (Today is Steaua’s President )!
3. One hour before any training session and several time, one hour after the training, he was in the field, and the
juniors, kids, and - anyone interested to shot PENALTIES TO HIM, was ready!
4. Our mission was to find the PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE OPPONENT AND BY EYES CONTACT, TO FIND OUT HIS
INTENTIONS OF SHOOTING; To establish special details to help him to have THE TIMING of few seconds,(and most of
the time, insight of a second/fractions of second) to catch the opponent’s intention and stop the ball!)
5. The distance to the ball, speed, position of the legs, harmony of hand and body + head/eyes, were give him
information to know, a fraction of second, to EVALUATE, DIAGNOSE AND SELECT THE COUNTER-TACTICS in the
psychological game of GOALKEEPER VS. THE PLAYERS SHOOYING THE PENALTY AND STOP OR CATCH THE BALL!
6. THUSAND SITUATIONS, EVERY DAY, YEARS, HIS OWN TRAINING created to HELMUTH DUCADAM, A SPECIAL MAGIC,
TO CONTROL HIMSELF, TO CONTROL THE OPPONENT AND TO BE THERE, WHERE THE OPPONENT WAS INTENTING TO
SHOOT. So, the MAGIC FOR SUPER-SKILLS HAS ONLY AN EXPLANATION : “Exceptional Training, Exceptional mental,
physical and skills to create the time, to understand, accept and do the right decision, in less than fraction of second!
7. Why not you as a COACH AND YOUR PLAYERS ARE NOT DOING THE SAME FOR THE SKILLS AND GAME’ STRATEGIES?
JUST TRY! GOOD LUCK!
 FOR ANY QUESTION, 2ND Opinion ,
Special individual performance for PERSONALITY
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
PLEASE, ADDRESSE TO:
Victor@SoccerAcademyOfAmerica.com
&
Director consultation of the ELECTRONIC
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LIBRARY:
www.Scribd.com/VictorStanculescu