Axel Moyano – Universidad San Martin’s meticulous pivote
Axel Moyano was born in Chosica as the 20-year-old defensive midfielder played 13 games for Alianza Lima’s title winning side last season, opening his account in a crucial tie. At the beginning of the year, he was loaned to Universidad San Martin, one of Peru’s premier talent developers as well as a team that sit on the opposite end of the table while his parent team signed him to a new contract. The 20-year-old has instantly become one of the team and league’s starring players as if his performances continue on the same trajectory, a move to another team could be in the offing.
Moyano is lanky but can shield the ball, swivel away from opposition pressure while having the intelligence to work quick passing sequences in tight spaces. The Peruvian midfield prospect operates at the base of midfield, receiving possession and utilizing a beautiful directional first touch to stride out of opposition pressure while having the passing range to ping switch passes either side of the pitch or roll accurately weighted passes in between the lines. Defensively, the 20-year-old is commanding in the air, constantly winning aerial duels while his positioning to regain possession cleanly in counter-pressing situations is exceptional, especially in the opposition half where he can quell counter-attacks and recycle possession. The young midfielder is developing into a deeper-lying midfield force.
At home to Atletico Grau, Universidad San Martin were applying pressure in a 4-2-3-1 shape with Moyano pushing high up into the opposition half in the deeper-midfield double-pivot to man-mark as the opposition goalkeeper would attempt a pass into the midfield line for Moyano to be perfectly positioned to make an interception and lay-off a pass to a teammate to have a shot on goal. Moyano is comfortable in regaining possession in the pressing phase but intriguingly, he is also comfortable and reliable in regaining possession in his own box cleanly, not rushing into challenges to concede penalties as he would make a clean tackle in his own box, driving the ball past an opposition attacker towards the left flank before he would hold off another attacker to work a pass down the line.
In possession, Moyano is a midfielder who is constantly scanning before he receives possession while he is a strong ball-carrier, using his body to shield the ball while also having a turn of pace to evade markers before playing penetrative passes forward. The Peruvian would receive possession in the six-space to turn his body to make it seem like he was playing a back-pass to attract pressure before nonchalantly spinning past his marker to evade him in order to switch a pass to the right flank. The 20-year-old took another measured first touch to control possession and play a pass to a teammate as he would move into space to receive possession, scanning to identify a marker behind him as he responded by pushing the ball forward with his directional first touch, driving the ball forward and threading a pass to the flank with the outside of his right boot. He received possession again, taking a touch and playing the ball to a teammate for a back-pass as he dropped into the six-space to attract pressure and create space for a teammate to receive possession in the 8 space.
His team would lose possession in their own half for Moyano to commandingly intervene with a clean sliding challenge to regain possession as after possession was lost from a goal-kick, he showed brilliant anticipation to step in front of his marker to make an interception. In the opposition half, he gained possession from a deflected cross to caress a lobbed pass to the right flank for a teammate to have a shooting opportunity. He then drove possession forward from the six-space to work a penetrative pass to the nine-space as if the striker had allowed the ball to roll across his body instead of taking a touch, he could have had a shot on goal. Another area where Moyano is commanding is in the air, as he frequently wins aerial duels at the base of midfield which allows him to be an even more effective counter-pressing player.
After a turnover in midfield, Moyano controlled a lay-off in a congested midfield area, taking a touch and playing the ball to a teammate before receiving possession again to control the ball and flick a pass to a defender. The 20-year-old’s impeccable first touch allows him to be an effective one or two touch passer, especially under pressure which is another aspect of his press resistance and has even seen him moved into the 8 space in some games. He received possession at the edge of his own box with an opposition player pushing up to apply pressure on him as before he moved into position, he took a quick look over his shoulder before taking another before receiving possession, taking a touch with the outside of his right boot before sweeping a progressive pass with the inside of his foot. The way he utilizes scanning to adjust his positioning and ascertain how to receive the ball as this makes him an effective distributor of the ball.
He utilized his scanning and directional first touch once more, moving into the six-space to receive possession, identifying a player in front of him before taking a peek over his shoulder before receiving possession to turn backwards with possession to shield the ball from the opposition midfielder pressing him from the front. He then played the ball back to his goalkeeper who switched the ball to the opposite flank as this allowed his team to evade pressure. He then made an interception from an opposition goal-kick as the 20-year-old made another interception, winning the ball aerially to intercept a throw-in. In the six-space, he slid across to make a clean tackle, covering up for his midfielder who missed a sliding tackle before receiving possession on the half-turn at the edge of his own box to roll a progressive pass to the right flank to instigate a counter-attacking move. He instigated another attacking move when he received possession from his goalkeeper, Martin Parra to lob a switch pass to the left flank.
At home to the Sport Boys Association, Moyano would start the game by regaining possession as he won another aerial duel in midfield before making a crunching, well timed challenge to regain possession during the counter-press in the opposition half. He went to ground to make another well-timed challenge in his own box before making an interception in the opposition half to play a forward pass which instigated an attacking move. The 20-year-old then made another interception in the counter-press in the opposition half to prevent a counter-attack as Moyano is an impressively resolute defender, being able to cover space be it in the pressing phase, counter-pressing phase or covering passing lanes in the defensive phase. He received a bobbling pass in the six-space to take a fantastic first touch and prod the ball to a teammate to put his side on the break.
At 20-years-old, Moyano is already showing potential of developing into a refined two-way midfielder, winning possession cleanly with tackles and interceptions while being able to break lines and instigate attacking moves with his distribution. After his team lost possession in the opposition box, Moyano was on hand to make a timely tackle and pass. After a goal-kick, Moyano would control a high ball with his outstretched leg before making a pass to a teammate before showing his ability in the counter-press again as after a shot was blocked, an opposition attacker was on hand to surge forward with one defender left guarding the goalkeeper as Moyano was positioned perfectly to make a clean sliding challenge before the counter-attack could even develop. He then blocked a shot on goal to prevent the opposition from having another goalscoring opportunity.
He pushed forward to close down a marker to regain possession with a clean tackle as he would receive possession in between three men, cleverly using his directional first touch to guide the ball away from an opposition player before playing a simple pass into the wide areas. The 20-year-old was perfectly positioned to make a clearance inside his own box before sliding to make another crucial interception in the opposition half during the counter-press, to recycle possession with a pass through which would lead to his team having a shooting opportunity. Moyano exhibited his scanning in the six-space when the ball was switched to the right-back who was occupying the same vertical line as him for the Peruvian defensive midfielder to drop into space to demand possession for the fullback to play the ball to the flank as Moyano scanned both sides and decided to hold his position, moving into space on the flank before the winger played the ball backwards for Moyano to receive possession with an open body shape, allowing the ball to roll across his body to control possession with his left before playing a pass to the flank with his right.
The opposition had an attacking move where a striker was 1v1 with a centre-back to hold possession up before swivelling and trying to work a pass to a teammate as Moyano tracked his marker perfectly to make an interception before playing an outside of the boot pass to start a counter-attack. He then made a clean tackle in midfield as his positioning, anticipation and mobility allow him to cover space and close down opposition players quickly and effectively to win possession as the 20-year-old repeated the trick to close down and tackle two opposition players by the touchline. He exhibited his mobility and anticipation when he closed down an opposition player’s most obvious passing option to force a turnover as a minute later, he was positioned perfectly to make an interception and play a pass in between the lines. Universidad San Martin were looking to preserve their two-goal lead when Moyano slid across the defensive block to cover a marker, forcing him towards the flank where the defensive midfielder used the tight quarters to make a perfectly timed sliding challenge.
At home to Melgar, Moyano received possession after a turnover in the midfield line to intelligently swivel to evade a marker before spreading a pass into the wide areas. After a turnover in the opposition box, Moyano was perfectly positioned in the counter-press to make an interception before spreading a pass into the wide areas. He made another interception to regain possession from an opposition throw-in before using his long legs to stretch and prod the ball out of the stride of an opposition player to regain possession in his own half. The 20-year-old was positioned on the left flank to receive a pass, scan over his shoulder to assess any pressure coming from behind him before his teammate even released the ball before playing a one-touch pass in between the lines. An opposition attacker attempted to lay-off a pass for a deeper-midfielder for Moyano to make a timely interception and back-pass.
He received possession in the opposition half to drive the ball forward and switch possession to the opposite flank for a situation that nearly led to a high-quality opportunity on goal. He had another immaculate one-touch pass, receiving a lay-off under pressure to spread the ball to the flank with his weaker left-foot. He was perfectly positioned to make another interception in the counter-press before tracking a marker to regain possession cleanly. His diligence in man-marking and tracking his markers is exceptional as this allows him to make well-timed sliding tackles as he is matching his opponent stride for stride while he can use his body to shield the ball and spin away as he is rarely reckless with his challenges. He was perfectly positioned to sweep up in the counter-press once again with a lovely header before he received possession in between the lines to play a cushioned pass for a teammate making a run into the centre.
In the latter stages of the game, Moyano moved into a box-to-box midfield position as he received the ball in between the lines to play a one-touch pass to the flank and make a run into space. He continued to be imposing without possession, anticipating a loose ball exceptionally to step in front of his marker and make an interception to lob a perfectly weighted pass for a striker to get in behind and fire a strike off the post before tapping in the rebound. He had another penetrative lob when he switched possession to the right flank for another switch which led to his team having an opportunity on goal. He regained possession at the edge of his own box with another perfectly timed sliding challenge before receiving another lay-off to switch a pass to the flank. He instigated another shot-on goal with a penetrative pass from the six-space to a teammate in the eight space to play a ball in behind for an attacker to have a tame shot on goal. After a turnover, he would play a one-touch pass with the outside of his boot for his team to evade pressure and switch the ball.
Moyano is a prodigious midfield anchor who provides security in the defensive phase and invention in attack as the meticulous way in which he positions himself to regain possession, rarely using his aforementioned mobility and physicality is highly impressive. His ability as a man-marker in closing down opponents, guiding them into tight spaces while being relentless with his pressure before being assured in the challenge, allows him to be an effective pressing play as well as allowing him to shield his defence effectively. He has no qualms in covering for a centre-back who is out of position, making clean challenges and interceptions in his own box as the few times he does go to ground, it is rarely to make a rash challenge. In the counter-presser, he is a sweeper or a washing machine, perfectly positioned to make an interception before recycling the ball with precision and efficiency, preventing the opposition from breaking.
In possession, Moyano is just as intelligent as he is capable of breaking lines with his distribution, but he also plays the simple pass when he is under pressure, be it a backwards or sideways pass, constantly scanning his surroundings to anticipate pressure and markers. His directional first touch and first touch in general is impeccable, controlling possession no matter the weight or height of the pass while he can guide possession away from markers in tight spaces, swivel with possession or shield the ball to draw a foul. He can also play passes with any part of his right boot as well as on the half-turn as he normally works possession with two touches as he is capable of playing one-touch passes when he is under pressure. He can be penetrative with his distribution to create opportunities or switch the ball to the weak side as for a 20-year-old, he is more well-rounded than most players in his position.
In interceptions for U23s, the 20-year-old ranks in the top 10 as the highest non-defender while he ranks 6th in overall defensive duels for all available players. For U23s, he ranks 8th in aerial duels as he also ranks joint 2nd in fouls. He ranks 9th in general passes, 6th in passes to the final third and 24th in progressive passes. In general ball progression by passes for U23s, he ranks 15th as he is 6th in long passes and 11th in through passes for this age-group. The 20-year-old is a standout defensive midfielder in a lot of metrics for his age-group as well as with the general players in Peru as he is certainly a young prospect to keep an eye on.
Moyano is currently on loan from Alianza Lima who made the intelligent decision to extend his contract before loaning him out as there is the possibility that he may not return to the Peruvian champions when his loan expires. If PSV Eindhoven sell Ibrahim Sangare, Moyano would be a phenomenal replacement for the Dutch side while he would also be a good acquisition for Stuttgart, Hamburg, Eintracht Frankfurt and Mainz. In Spain, he would be an intriguing option for Rayo Vallecano while clubs like Torino, Udinese, Bologna, Verona, Atalanta, Lazio and Fiorentina would also be the most suitable teams for his progression as his style meshes well with Serie A. Peru are currently a hotbed of talent in South America where there is immense value for money as 20-year-old, Moyano is one of the more intriguing deep-lying playmakers in content filled with them.
