Off-Ball Pairing: The Weak-Side Ala Backdoor

In competitive futsal, have you ever wondered, "What should we do when we cannot break through with a one-two or a parallel move, or when the pass just is not available?"

At times like that, it is very important to give up on breaking through with just two players and use the third player instead.

This article gives a thorough explanation of the weak-side ala backdoor in a 3-1 shape, a concept that also applies to various forms of positional attack, including the 4-0.

Overview

First, try to break through with a two-player relationship

Cannot break through with two players -> use the weak-side ala

When a two-player breakthrough is not possible in situations like the following, use the third player.

• The lane in behind (from the passer to the receiver) is blocked
• The receiver has not fully gained the defender's blind side

At this moment, it is important to recognize that off-ball red 2 and red 3 are connected as an off-ball pairing.

The second player becomes the third player: the weak-side ala backdoor

The ala runs into the space opened up by the pivot and looks for the backdoor.

At this point, the key is to attack the space where the opposing fixo (blue 4) and the goalkeeper cannot recover in time.

One-two

The one-two is not on -> cancel it

Here, it is important for the fixo to turn without showing their back to the opponent, in other words, to turn while facing forward.

Turn and play to the weak-side ala

There is also an attacking pattern that goes through the pivot.

Choose the best option based on your team's principles, preferred foot, and the defender's positioning.

For the attacking pattern that goes through the pivot, see the article below.

The weak-side ala backdoor

Parallel

The parallel pass is not on

There are broadly four ways to receive a parallel pass, explained in detail in the article below.

Among them, the weak-side ala backdoor is especially effective when the pattern is horizontal support into a curved parallel run.

The second player becomes the third player -> the weak-side ala backdoor

This works the same way as the one-two example explained earlier.

If the weak-side ala could not get in behind

If the player has not actually gotten in behind, forcing a pass into depth will only erase the passing lane, so if they judge that they cannot receive behind the line, they should quickly drop underneath instead.

Summary

How was it?

Keep in mind that attacks involving the third player are never isolated ideas on their own. Individual tactics and two-player relationships are always the foundation, and only on top of that foundation does three-player tactics exist.