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MATCH

2019 MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE 32nd Sec - Albirex Niigata vs Tokyo Verdy

Match Report

Last week, Verdy achieved a dominant 4-0 win over Renofa Yamaguchi FC at Nishigaoka Stadium. This week, they enter a difficult stretch of three straight away matches. With contexts upcoming against upper-table opponents like Omiya Ardija and Kashiwa Reysol, the need to bring home three points against Albirex Niigata on this day took on even greater importance.

 

After making a stunning debut in the victory against Yamaguchi, by having a hand in all four goals, Jailton Paraiba was once again named to the starting lineup. Yuhei Sato, having just returned from injury, also made an instant return to the squad at Libero, replacing Koki Morita who had been taken off with a concussion the previous week.

 

The match began at Verdy’s pace. Sato pulled the strings from the back at libero, while wide strikers Shion Inoue and Paraiba took up high positions, allowing the team to push up the pitch. The players built moves from the wide positions, pulling their markers to the byline before switching the play in other directions, and before long, they had pinned the opposition in their own half. However, the attackers were ultimately too impatient at the end of moves, leading to mistakes, and there were few opportunities for a finish. The first real chance of the match came in the 31st minute, when Leandro took on a free role and dropped into midfield to receive a pass from Shion Inoue before playing the ball to Paraiba on the right wing. Running at the defense, Paraiba broke into the penalty area and hit a reverse pass. It was Klebinho, now playing in the middle after trading positions with Yamamoto, who made the run into the box and the Brazilian met the ball first time, only to see his effort blocked by the goalkeeper. The subsequent corner kick would fall loose into the penalty area and be met by Inoue with a stylish volley, but this too was cleared off the line by a defender. In the 35th minute, Paraiba cut inside at a diagonal angle from the right and broke free after a one two with Leandro, but his attempt at a shot was blocked by a lunging challenge from the defense. With the minutes ticking away in the first half, the Verdy players determined that their opponents were not going to emerge from their defense shell and raised the intensity of their attack, leading to a mid-range shot from Klebinho and other efforts that signaled an improved offensive rhythm as they entered the break.

 

The second half opened with Verdy once again on the attack. The scoreline would then move for the first time in the 51st minute. After pushing up while building from the back, Naoya Kondo played a tentative ball forward to Leandro and with one touch, the forward flicked the ball into space behind the right side of the defense. The pass found its way to Klebinho, who had made a late run in response to Kondo’s initial pass. The Brazilian built up steam and continued his run into the penalty area where he was tackled from behind, earning the team a penalty kick. It was Leandro who stepped up to the spot. With a clever change in tempo just as he struck the ball, the Verdy man sent his effort beneath the diving goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Following the opener, the opposition finally came forward, looking to equalize, and began to share more of the possession. This led to a highly even contest. Naoya Kondo came close to doubling the Verdy lead with a header from a free kick in the 69th minute, but the keeper made a good save to bat it away. The Verdy attackers were still struggling to break down the tight defense and by continuing to push forward, the team found themselves vulnerable on the counter more and more as Niigata brought on fresh legs and began to move the ball in the final third. After an open passage of play, Verdy would finally concede from a corner kick in the 77th minute and the final minutes were spent with the score even. The team began throwing greater numbers forward to try and reclaim their lead and Niigata continued to hit back on the break. Verdy did well to defend with minimal numbers at the back and the attackers showed plenty of aggression, but they were ultimately unable to create another clear chance and the match ended at 1-1.

 

Due to the high amount of injury substitutions suffered by the team of late, Verdy attempted to provide a fresh dose of energy by granting a debut to Joel Chima Fujita, a youth player who is registered simultaneously with the first team, but a final shot on goal looked far away. The players are thus left to ponder how they could have built on their 1-0 lead and put the result beyond doubt. From the perspective of “game design”, a term often emphasized by the manager, the lack of patience shown in the second half put the team in danger by leading to mistakes and threats on the counter. In the future, the players must learn to read their opponents’ approach and retreat, push back, or speed up in response. It is only then that they can claim the goals they need to shut the match down once and for all. Even as they focus on building ways to win, the players must now prepare to face Omiya next week.

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Post-match comments

Manager Hideki Nagai

Your thoughts on the match?
First, I would like to acknowledge the many supporters who traveled a great distance to attend today’s away match. We are truly grateful. Our job is to make those supporters happy and from that perspective, today’s result is very frustrating. In terms of the content of the match, I think we largely accomplished our plan during the opening minutes. However, in the second half, I don’t think we did a good enough job of observing our opponents and responding to their approach in an intelligent way. That part is something we have to reflect on. To be honest, I prefer to use my substitutions to help execute a change in game plan, but the players have been making a lot of mistakes and that has made things difficult for me as far as personnel changes. Still, the players are fully committed in each match, indeed in each day of training, to try new things and they are doing an excellent job. I am grateful to them. I believe that there is still a lot more they can do and I will do my best to demand quality from them as we prepare for the next match.

Rihito Yamamoto and Klebinho began switching positions in the first half, but in the second half, Yamamoto moved completely to right side back. Can you tell us your intentions?
It was part of our plan, but I also had the feeling that Klebinho could perform very well at front inside half. Rihito (Yamamoto) is left-footed, so I wanted him to play flicks behind the opposition’s left side back when he took up high positions. I’d say it was only half successful. To be honest, I think Rihito is capable of a better performance than what he showed today and I think he needs to reflect on that.

You often speak about “game design” and while the players have clearly improved in that area, you still gave up the lead today. What do you think the players needed to do differently?
Despite having the lead and pinning the opposition back today, we couldn’t recycle possession or take care of the ball. That suggests a lack of overall understanding of the broader game plan. The fact that we showed so little patience in attack at those times is the point we need to work on and the biggest lesson we need to take away from today’s match. In terms of game design, there was no need at all to rush things at that time. We have to stop moving the ball into the areas the opposition is aiming to trap us in and giving up opportunities on the counter.

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Post-match comments

DF 3Naoya Kondo

How do you feel about how the team managed the game?
In terms of the style we want to achieve, the way myself, Uchi(da), Rihito (Yamamoto) and Yuhei (Sato) combined at the back and pushed up to the halfway line was ideal. However, we were unable to finish off our moves. There were no other problems that I could identify.

You didn’t feel their counter attacking was particularly threatening?
I think we defended well in the first half. In the second half, the match became more open and their counter attacks took advantage of our mistakes. They have players who are very dynamic with the ball, like Silvinho and Francis, so that made things a little difficult. Still, we wanted to win too and since we took the risk of putting more players forward to try to get another goal, they were dangerous on the counter after winning the ball. Both in terms of how we defend and risk management, I think we need to be a little calmer at the back. Uchi(da) and I should have spoken more to the other players.

You and Uchida seemed to be on the same page about keeping a high line and pushing up when they played back passes.
Those are all things we work on in training and things the manager tells us to be aware of. After we push up, we have to drop back if the opposition stays onside and push up even more if they are clearly off. I think our decision making is getting better in that area. However, we also knew the opposition would play with a higher line too in the second half and that they would aim to play through balls after passing it at the back, so we have to learn to drop back whenever they have a clear opportunity to make the pass.

Did they make things difficult by moving the ball wide and making direct runs at your defense in the second half?
They had a couple of dribblers come on as substitutes in the wide areas and they were in good form. Yano is also very dynamic and I could tell that the fresh legs had revitalized their attack. In the midst of that, we always knew that the biggest threat was from set pieces, so we have to think more about preventing our opponents from winning corner kicks. They’re just not something that is a strong point for me. I think we need better judgment to not concede corners so easily and instead try to play it out for a throw in.

You came close to scoring from a header. Was the angle just a little more inside than you wanted?
They were playing a zonal defense and my marker was smaller than me, although I’m not sure who it actually was, the ball that came in was excellent and I had a clear shot from the diagonal, so I aimed for the far post. I didn’t really think it would go in, but I hoped someone would look to tap it in from the follow up.

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MF 40Joel Chima Fujita

How does it feel to have made your pro debut?
I was only on the pitch for a short time, but I still tried to give everything I had. However, I also made some obvious mistakes toward the end and it was a frustrating result.

When did you find out you had made the squad?
I got a call after midnight last night and at the time, I couldn’t believe it, but once I’d been selected, I knew I had to do my best.

After watching from the bench, what did you think your role would be after you were brought on?
We were being pinned back for long periods and if I got the call, I wanted to take up good positions and help the team retain possession more. I hoped that if we worked together to keep the ball, we could get the winning goal and the three points.

Were you nervous being on the pitch?
Yes. Looking back. I think the play was a lot more physical and at a faster pace than the youth level. In order to play at that pace, I need to do things like check my surroundings before I receive the ball. I will try to be aware of that in the future.

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