2018 MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE 3rd Sec - Tokyo Verdy vs Matsumoto Yamaga F.C.

Match Report

After earning a win and a draw in the opening two fixtures, Verdy returned to Aji no Moto stadium this week to face Matsumoto Yamaga, who had achieved only a single win in their first two matches. The starting lineup for Verdy was unchanged, with rookie Kanya Fujimoto making an appearance for the third week in a row. Meanwhile, on the substitutes bench, Carlos and Hideo Hashimoto made the squad for the first time this season.

The match took no time to get started. In the second minute, Verdy conceded a deep run down the right wing, leading to a cross in front of goal. Nagai was on hand to apply the finish and Verdy suddenly found themselves having given up the early lead. While it appeared that the team were on the ropes, the goal actually shifted them into gear and they began to impose their style of careful buildup, leading to attacks on the opposition goal. In the 7^th minute, Ryota Kajikawa took a corner kick on the right and floated a cross to the far side. Shinnosuke Hatanaka rose highest in the box to head it toward goal, and though a defender seemed well placed to clear it off the line, Douglas got a touch that changed the path of the ball and sent it into the back of the net for a near-instant equalizer. With Verdy now riding momentum, Alan was next to find space in front of goal but his shot flashed wide right of the right post. In the 14^th minute, Verdy would once again find themselves on the back foot. After buildup play out wide, Yamaga began to pin Verdy back in their area and Naoto Kamifukumoto was called upon to make a fine save. From this point, a fierce struggle for the ball developed, leading to a highly competitive contest in which neither side gave ground. Towards the end of the half, Verdy were pushed back for an extended period but after enduring the pressure, a chance of their own would finally arrive. In the 43^rd minute, Yuta Narawa received the ball deep on the left and shed his marker with a well-timed run, placing a cross from the by-line. As the ball floated into space on the left side of the penalty area, the man standing in the right position was Alan. With his back to goal, the forward seemed poised to trap the ball with his first touch, but instead surprised everyone by twisting his body for an overhead kick. The ball flew into the back of the net and Verdy succeeded in taking the lead at an important time.

At half time, the coaching staff began applying many fine revisions. In particular, Manager Lotina and Coach Ivan emphasized the need to continue protecting the ball and play Verdy’s normal passing game. With renewed faith in their game plan, the players came out in the second half with greater confidence and began to push their opponents back. Compared to the close of the first half, Verdy also had more opportunities to win the ball and pressure the goal with short counter attacks. In the 71^st minute, Kota Watanabe challenged the defense from wide left and put in a cross. Alan made a run on the far side and connected with his first touch. The shot looked bound for goal, but was kept out by a spectacular save. From this point, Yamaga began to push forward in search of the equalizer. Although Verdy were increasingly pinned back in front of their own goal, the instructions from the bench were to raise the line. The players responded and, without losing concentration, realized the manager’s goals. Even as their opponent moved the ball out wide, Verdy kept a flexible defensive shape to deal with the danger, while Akira Ibayashi and Hatanaka marshalled the target man and repelled long balls played through the air. In the 86^th minute, Yamaga’s Takasaki beat the offside trap and found himself unmarked for a powerful shot. However, Naoto Kamifukumoto showed strong reflexes to deflect the effort. One minute later, Shion Inoue dribbled through the defense for a solo effort but this too was kept out by the opposition keeper.

The biggest chance of the match for both teams would come in the third minute of additional time. As the opposition pushed forward, Tatsuya Uchida pierced the back line dribbling down the left. With Douglas entering the vital area on the opposite side, Verdy found themselves with a two v one in front of goal. Uchida pulled the defenders to create space and then played a final ball for Douglas who had the nearly empty goal at his mercy. However, his shot went just wide and the team failed to build on their lead. Despite the missed opportunity, the final whistle blew just moments later and Verdy had achieved consecutive wins at home.

Since Verdy’s first win against Matsumoto Yamaga in 2012, just after Yamaga’s promotion to the J-League, Verdy had not achieved a win on this particular card. Today, however, they were finally able to break the jinx. The Verdy we saw this week was not the team of the past. Now it’s up to the players to provide further evidence of their progress by fulfilling the constant demands from Manager Lotina and Coach Ivan to take each match one at a time and concentrate on the task at hand in the coming weeks.

Manager Miguel Ángel Lotina

Your thoughts on the match?
We conceded the first goal way too early, but we reacted well and were able to get an equalizer soon after. It was huge that we were able to get the tying goal so quickly. That enabled us to recover our confidence as the match continued. Overall, it was a very even first half, but Alan was able to get us a second goal and we ended the half leading 2-1. The second half began largely the same as the first. As things progressed, our opponents began to control the game for longer periods and particularly at the end, we spent a lot of time on the defensive. However, during that time, we were able to keep defensive errors to a minimum. They didn’t make it easy to play a high line, but we still managed to raise it as much as we could. By winning a tough match against a strong opponent, I think we’ve proven that we are not mistaken in our approach.

It seemed like the team changed their play style, somewhat, after the opponents adjusted the shape of their front line.
Obviously, we are not able to control their system. With that said, throughout the week, in training, we had communicated to our players that the opposition might come at us with a front two or a front three. As a team, they can play 3-5-2 or 3-4-3, but we had prepared for both systems, so it didn’t have that big an effect. There are teams that change their system match by match and others that change it during the flow of play. All I can say is that we were prepared.

Did their change in systems have an effect on the first goal you conceded?
The first goal had nothing to do with their system. I think they began the match at a very high pace and that, combined with a little bad luck on our part, led to the goal.

What was the biggest danger posed by Matsumoto today?
They play with a very high intensity and they’re well trained when it comes to winning the second ball. They have a variety of high quality players with different styles that can play on their front line. In midfield, they have players with size and quality. In particular, we had trained to deal with their ability to win loose balls, which I felt was their biggest weapon.

After the equalizer, what was behind your decision to mix things up on set pieces? It seemed like you were calling for short corners and other trick plays.
We have players that head the ball well and I wanted to give them the advantage by first playing short passes. The aim was to throw off the timing of our opponents. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but I think the fact that we’ve earned two goals from set pieces already this season is because of our players’ strength in the air. When we play a short pass first, it’s to nullify whatever their strategy was for dealing with the set piece and give our players the advantage. With that said, I don’t think it’s all that special or tricky and it’s something that is normal for other teams too.

The team were pushed back into their territory at the end of the match. Was your thinking to get forward on the counter and try to earn a third goal, or did you want the players to be safe and try to protect the points?
Once Carlos entered the match, we were able to secure possession on the front line. That gave us more chances to face forward and attack. When the other team is dominating the ball and putting a lot of pressure on you when you do have possession, I believe that it’s important for the forwards to protect the ball when they receive it and buy time for their teammates to push up the pitch. Alan and Douglas did a brilliant job, despite being very tired. By putting Carlos in, I think we succeeded in allowing the other players some time to catch their breath.

FW 7Alan Pinheiro

Your thoughts on the match?
I’m very happy to have gotten my first goal of the season, but more than that, I’m happy that the team came away with the win. It’s particularly pleasing that I could provide the goal that earned the team the three points.

This was your first win against Matsumoto Yamaga since 2012.
I think our daily work in training and the good preparations we’ve made were what enabled us to gain the upper hand and earn the win. I believe it’s important for us to continue working as we have been.

The team have now won two in a row at home to start the season.
I think two wins and one draw from the opening three matches is an excellent start. We will use this as the ingredients for further success and engage in proper training for the next match.

The stadium was full of home supporters again today.
A lot of supporters came to the stadium today and they provided us with fantastic power. I’d like to express my gratitude to them. Thank you very much.

What do you hope to accomplish in the coming matches?
It is our belief that all the upcoming matches will be difficult, so we will treat each one like a cup final. To that end, we will train hard and prepare well for each match.

DF 4Shinnosuke Hatanaka

Your thoughts on the match?
I’m happy that we were able to pull together as a team and come from behind to win.

Tell us about the set piece that led to the equalizer.
Iba (Akira Ibayashi) created space for me, so all I had to do was get past my marker. I would have been most happy if I had scored myself, but Douglas did a good job of finishing it off.

It seemed like the team was particularly focused on attack in the first half.
I felt that if we were going to have possession of the ball, it would be in the first half and I think that we were able to wear them out through that.

What was it that enabled you to fend off their attacks in the second half?
At half time, we all discussed the fact that they were likely to have more of the ball after the break. We were also aware as a group that they would make some changes in personnel. I think it’s great for the team that we were able to endure and express our toughness in those moments.

Considering that they had changed their front line over their first two matches, what were you thinking about defensively, coming into today?
Honestly, they lined up differently from what we expected, but I think we were able to put pressure on the ball and did a good job of winning the second ball in the first half.

You didn’t give up many fouls in dangerous areas.
The manager had told us not to foul them in front of our goal, so when they had the ball, we concentrated and defended as a unit. I think that enabled us to avoid fouling them.

Even though you were pushed back in the second half, you never seemed to concede many dangerous opportunities.
We tightened up where we could and we weren’t afraid of letting them pass the ball at the back.

DF 3Akira Ibayashi

You were able to hold them off and escape with the win.
They didn’t really press as much as we thought they would. I think that was maybe a mistake in their game plan.

You seemed to emphasize tight marking of Nagai on their front line.
Whether it was Nagai or Takasaki, if they were able to receive the ball on the front line, it made it easier for them to bring numbers forward on the counter. For that reason, we concentrated on stopping them there, even if we had to foul. We wanted them to feel our presence when they got the ball.

Considering that the opponents had changed the players and shape of their front line over their first two matches, what were you thinking about defensively, coming into today?
Well, Uchi (Tatsuya Uchida) and I had discussed that we didn’t know what position Serginho would line up at. They sometimes looked like a front two and were pretty asymmetric, so we had to be aware of the need for flexibility. I’m happy with the way we were able to pull it off.

What were you thinking when you gave up the early goal?
To give up a goal that early, when we knew we needed to be patient today, was a bit unexpected. With that said, the fact that we were able to play our style for 90 minutes was what enabled us to overturn their lead. I also think the quick equalizer gave us a big boost.

GK 21Naoto Kamifukumoto

Your thoughts on the match?
Personally, I wasn’t that afraid of them, but I knew that it was going to be a physical match from the beginning. When you give up an early goal like that, it’s easy for your game plan to completely crumble, but we showed our character by reorganizing in defense and protecting our goal after that. Getting the equalizer so quickly was huge. It allowed everyone to reset their mindset and defend as a team.

You made your presence felt, today, by coming off your line to deal with crosses and stopping shots.
On an individual level, I still have to improve my quality, but the team helped me today and I was able to play to my strengths. I’m happy that contributed to us getting the three points.

Last week against Vent Foret, it felt like the team needed to make more use of the goal keeper during buildup.
They pressed tightly from the front, even on goal kicks, and there were a number of points where it felt like a short pass wouldn’t connect. But as the game went on, Douglas and Alan were winning the battle for the ball on the front line, so I didn’t worry about building from the back every time and was conscious of putting in the occasional long ball.

As you said, it did feel like Alan and Douglas were winning the battle for long balls.
Yamaga have the tallest center backs in the league, so I had been worried about putting the ball in those areas. However, as the match went on, Douglas really showed his strength and as a team, we felt like we could retain the ball there. Ideally, we want to build from the back with short passing more, but because we were able to adjust and make judgments based on the pitch condition or individual matchups, I think that helped us to regain the momentum.

You conceded your first goal of the season today.
It definitely hurt us as a team to give up a goal that early, but we had plenty of time remaining and we knew that there was still a chance as long as we didn’t break down again. I also think that our ability to maintain composure in those circumstances is our strength as a team. Of course, we don’t want to concede that quickly or give another team the lead, but the fact that we were able to come back, today, and win will give us confidence as a team.

MF 8Tatsuya Uchida

You showed good teamwork with the defenders, today, to protect the lead.
It was like we practiced. We knew that they would put in tall players, who are strong physically, and come at us with a lot of long balls. The plan was for our defenders to repel the initial feed and for the three of us in midfield to try and collect the loose ball. I think we won today because we stuck to the instructions.

You had a big chance on the counter attack at the close of the match.
When the other players got forward on the counter, I wanted them to take it to the corner flag, but when the ball came to me, there was a high chance that I would score, so I went for the goal.

How do you feel the team managed the game after taking the lead?
I don’t think we did as well as we could. It felt good in the first half, after we took the lead, but in the second, we suddenly found ourselves on the back foot. It’s important for us to play our game for 90 minutes. Today, especially, the manager and coach Ivan were shouting from the sidelines to move the ball more.

The opposition saw a lot of the ball in the second half. Is your impression that the team should have tried to control possession more?
Ideally, we want to play like we did in the first half, but they were pressing hard and that made things difficult. With that said, we need to have the confidence to repel teams in those situations.

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