The game didn’t live up to the huge hype that it generated largely due to Azam’s insipid performance. This was a tactically dull game. In a space of a week, Azam have lost to two of their championship challengers and the rehired Hall has a lot of work ahead if Azam are to become champions come end of the season.
 

Yanga stretched the play well, often playing the ball out wide.  They stuck to their 4-4-2 formation and as usual, Chuji played slightly deeper than Domayo in central midfield.  Azam’s problems in the first half were largely down to the fact that balls played forward were easily intercepted by the Yanga defenders. 
 

They looked for the ball over the top for Boko and Kipre Tchetche to run onto but they failed to get the better of the Yanga defense. Several times Boko was caught offside. His runs were too direct and he didn’t try bending his runs.
 

Throughout the season thus far, these front two have looked to occupy the space left by the opposing fullback pushing forward. With Twite more attack minded than Joshua, Tchetche and Boko took turns to drift towards that side when Twite went forward. Yanga ensured that when either of the fullback pushed forward, the other remained thus ensuring a 3 v 2 at the back.
 

The period between the start of the second half and Yanga’s goal was relatively subdued. Azam’s play was much improved. Halving recognized that Boko was caught offside several times in the first half, he was asked to drop and receive the ball to feet rather than in behind the defense. This improved Azam’s ball retention in the final third though not much happened in terms of goalmouth action. The second goal killed off the game as a contest and came following a cross from Yanga’s right wing. Morad found himself in the leftback position while Nuhu covered his position. In an attempt to try to get back into their natural positions, Chuji received the ball and was free to cross the ball which met the feet of Kiiza.
 

It was inevitable that with a new coach in charge, there would be a change in formation. I have documented heavily about Bunjak’s diamond midfield narrowness when defending. Hall’s choice of a flat midfield was intended to try have a formation with natural width rather than created width. Last week’s game against Simba, they failed to deal with crosses and it would seem the idea was to have the wingers and fullbacks double up on the opposing wingers so as to prevent crosses into the penalty area.
 

His selection of Salum to play on the right of midfield was however a misjudgment. Salum plays in central midfield and in last week’s game, he played at the tip of the midfield diamond. So it was a surprise to see him play on the right wing. His natural midfield tendencies surfaced as he drifted inwards and dropped so deep to try gain possession of the ball.  A cross from this wing, which Nyoni failed to clear, is what handed Yanga the lead.
 

Hall tried to rectify the problem that Azam have, ineptitude in dealing with crosses by trying to prevent them. Given the short spell with which he had to work with the team, no blame can be attached to him for losing this match. Much work will be done to find a panacea for their problems. He will also need to find an alternative to their attacking movements as the diagonal runs into the channels have become too predictable.