SC Internacional Under 20 – Match Report vs Flamengo-SP Under 20 (13/01/2022)

SC Internacional faced Flamengo-SP for the 1/32 round of the Copinha 2022. Inter changed their formation from their previous match and set up an offensive 4-4-1-1 with the aim to improve his lack of dangerous chances, which worked well for them against a Flamengo-SP side that waited in a low block but weren’t good enough and ended up conceding 3 goals against a highly superior opponent.

Youth Ratings

1 – Ready for the first team
2 – Good, potential to be first team
3 – Decent, could make first team squad
4 – Decent potential, unlikely to make it to first team
5 – Unlikely to make first team

Estevão

Player profile:

• Nationality: Brazilian
• Age: 19
• Date of birth: 03/02/2002
• Current club: SC Internacional
• Career: SC Internacional
• Position: Central Midfielder
• Secondary Position: Attacking Midfielder
• Preferred foot: Both

In the previous SC Internacional match I analyzed, I commented that the team lacked a touch of unpredictability in attack, and the reason for that was Estevão’s absence. The Brazilian shared the attacking midfield with Allison but played a little further back. He was the player that the whole team was looking for to give him the ball thanks to his excellent technique, his ability to get past opponents and create dangerous plays. Estevão is a player with an exquisite first touch and who moves with a pronounced elegance, having a decent balance despite not having a great physique that allows him to turn very well. The 19-year-old was a great contribution in the elaboration of the attack due to his quality passes and his unpredictable movements, plus his flair displayed with the ease he had in moving forward, past his opponents and then making a definitive pass. His class is also seen in his shooting, from which came Inter’s first goal after a precise low shot from outside the box.

In the last third he makes very good decisions, however, when he receives further back on the pitch and is pressured, he is selfish and tries to get his way instead of passing the ball and in those situations he lost some balls. But on the other hand, he showed his great talent when he managed to past his opponents.

He’s not the fastest or the strongest, but he knows how to move on the pitch to avoid body-to-body duels and mentally he’s quick enough to read the game. Estevão kept order in the middle with a silent leadership, which was expressed in his football and body language showing great confidence rather than in giving orders to his teammates.

Rating – 1

I am surprised that Estevão hasn’t yet had a chance in the first team, based on what he displayed in this match I think he would be a contribution. He is the baller of the team and I enjoyed watching him play. I’ll definitely keep an eye on him more often.

Lucca Holanda

Player profile:

• Nationality: Brazilian
• Age: 18
• Date of birth: 02/04/2003
• Current club: SC Internacional
• Career: Ceará – SC Internacional
• Position: Forward
• Preferred foot: Right

Lucca played as the only striker against Flamengo-SP just as he did in his previous game, where he didn’t have a great performance, however, this time was different and the Brazilian did well. Lucca had a more noticeable involvement on this match and he showed once again his great ability with his feet and his agility. The Brazilian combined very well with Allison in attack and they were the main threats up the pitch especially because of the forward great positioning in the box, something that was very difficult to see in his match against Portuguesa. You could see that Lucca really wanted to score, and that motivated him to always show himself to his teammates and stay focused, which finally paid off after a crossed ball from Allison from the left that Lucca stopped in the air with his right foot and volleyed off with the left scoring a great goal. The 18-year-old displayed much more determination and it seemed from the start.

Despite not having a great physique, he has enough strength and balance to hold his own in physical duels with strong defenders. He has speed, good ball control and agility with his feet, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him performing well as a left winger cutting inside.

Contrary to the Portuguesa game, Inter system favored Lucca to stand out in his appearances, which although there were not many, were enough to see what the striker is capable of.

Rating – 3

Lucca had a better day this time. It wasn’t an outstanding performance either, but he surprised me with the goal he scored which I really didn’t expect it from him and there he showed that he has good technique and great shooting, aspects that he failed to display in his previous game. He could make it to the first team in the future but he still has to develop his potential.

Jonathan

Player profile:

• Nationality: Brazilian
• Age: 19
• Date of birth: 09/05/2002
• Current club: SC Internacional
• Career: Atlético Goianiense – SC Internacional
• Position: Left back
• Secondary Position: Wing back
• Preferred foot: Left

The 19-year-old left back played a little higher up the pitch as a left midfielder to make room for the left back Lucas Ryan. Jonathan didn’t have an excellent game but he showed quite interesting characteristics for his position. He tried to make one-twos to go up in attack or waited for the game to be played on the right to go up and take advantage of gaps.

He is fast, strong and has a build that is most common in a centre back, in addition to standing at 1.80 m. being a great contribution both in defence and attack. Jonathan isn’t a technically gifted player, but he is able to control the ball decently and get past opponents, which showed when he scored a goal with a feint included inside the box after a great anticipation coming at speed from behind. He is not very agile and instead of moving forward with the ball he prefers to play it quickly.

Defensively, he was not seen much since Inter dominated during the 90 minutes. Although he did prove to be quite acceptable in the few duels he had, mostly because of his strength and speed which gives him an extra edge against the competition wingers, who lacks a great physique. Jonathan is a player with determination and was very concentrated during the game, as well as being well positioned out of possession, so it’s quite difficult to see him messed up in defensive transitions in addition that he also has great stamina that allows him to come back on time.

Rating – 2

From what I have seen, Jonathan has the potential to make it to the first team in a future. However and although out of possession he was good, the truth is that he didn’t touch many balls in the two games that I saw him, but when he did he was quite decisive and showed some aptitudes.

Allison

Player profile:

• Nationality: Brazilian
• Age: 19
• Date of birth: 07/02/2002
• Current club: SC Internacional
• Career: SC Internacional
• Position: Attacking Midfielder
• Preferred foot: Right

The 19-year-old played as a playmaker without Pedrinho’s company this time, so he had more space to move around the pitch. Allison waited higher up behind Lucca so he was in charge of connecting the last pass to the forward or getting out of his mark and waiting for an assist from Estevão. As he had more freedom, he tried to going forward with the ball and get past his opponents, something that he really likes to do. However, many of these were unsuccessful and Allison lost the ball several times as he was knocked down very easily due to his lack of strength and his decisions, especially when he came out playing from behind, since in some situations he wasn’t well positioned to dribble and had better options. This is something that couldn’t be appreciated much in his previous game and it is a very important aspect for a player like Allison so he must improve on it.

He was fairly tactically disciplined, which was an advantage for Inter as this made Allison instead of set back from his position to look for the ball -as he did in his previous match- he stayed higher dragging the central mark to open a gap in defence for Lucca or Jonathan. In consequence, Allison created many spaces on Flamengo’s defence and managed to make two assists.

Allison and Lucca know each other very well and they did a great job offensively connecting together. Allison is definitely a great team player when he prefers to play with his teammates and it was the best thing he did in the game. He is very intelligent in the last third but he has to know how to read the game better when he is in possession further back on the pitch and make better decisions.

Rating – 2

When I commented that Allison could be a top player if he develops his full potential on his previous analysis, I must add the condition of a improvement in his decisions since he likes to have the ball in excess sometimes. His performance in this match tells me that he still has to polish his potential to make it to the first team.