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MATCH
Match Report
Last week, Verdy achieved a 3-0 victory in a home match at Nishigaoka stadium, relieving the pent up stress from the team’s recent run of scoreless draws. Now the team enter a series of consecutive matches during the Golden Week Holiday, first facing Omiya Ardija. This match was especially important, as Verdy not only hoped to extend their run of undefeated matches since the start of the season, but also were aiming for their first winning streak of the year. The squad for the match was unchanged from the previous week, including Alan, who made the bench for the second time since returning from injury.
The match began with Verdy controlling the pace. While Omiya had possession from time to time, pushing Verdy into their own half, no gaps would emerge in the team’s defensive shape and Omiya were not handed any clear opportunities. Rather, it was Verdy who stood out for their aggressive play up front and the forwards continually ran at the defense, creating a number of chances. In the 10th minute, Ryohei Hayashi managed a shot after a pass from Yuta Narawa, but his effort would be blocked by a defender. Three minutes later, Shion Inoue would bypass the vital area and fire a midrange shot, only to be blocked by a defender once again. After a period of struggle in midfield, a clear opportunity would fall Verdy’s way in the 21st minute, when Naoya Tamura’s pass found the feet of Kota Watanabe inside the penalty area. Watanabe spotted Douglas making a supporting run and played a first-time backheel pass into space. Douglas then gained control of the ball before the defense and fired a shot on goal, but his effort was kept out by a brilliant save from the opposition keeper. Moments later, a mistake led to an Omiya counterattack, ending in a midrange shot on goal before the defense could compose itself. However, Naoto Kamifukumoto reacted well to deflect the shot and then threw his body to block a strong effort that came from the rebound, ending the danger. As the hands of the clock turned, Verdy strengthened their attacking momentum. In the 38th minute, Douglas received a long pass, deep in opposition territory on the left side. After pausing to allow his teammates to build numbers in the box, Douglas played a pinpoint cross into the area, reaching Hayashi, who had snuck into the space between the defenders. Hayashi’s header was on target but saved once again by the goalkeeper. Even after entering additional time, the Verdy attack did not cool down. In the final play of the half, they broke forward on the counter, with Douglas once again making the final pass in front of goal from the left side. Hayashi met the pass with a strong left footed volley that was saved once again. Douglas would then pounce on the loose ball, but this too was kept out by a desperate block from a defender covering the goal line.
After making minor adjustments in attack and defense, the Verdy play would deflate at the opening of the second half. In the 49th minute, a diagonal ball was played into the Verdy final third. Ibayashi reacted, but was turned by Robin Simović, who bore down on goal. Kamifukumoto left his line, but he too was rounded and the ball was rolled easily into the open net. The goal was the first that Verdy had conceded in six matches. On top of that, the team had been dominant in the first half and the players couldn’t help but suffer from the shock. As play resumed, the Verdy players were much more defensive, passing the ball from side to side with little forward momentum. Alan, Kanya Fujimoto, and Kazuma Takai were brought on as substitutes to provide an attacking spark, but the team struggled to break down the opposition who packed numbers in the box. Verdy were able to carry the ball high up the pitch, but the opposition pressure proved stifling. On the other hand, the team began to take too many risks and the opposition would take advantage of their loss of balance, as substitute Mateus picked up the ball at the half line and made a solo run on goal, finding the net to bring the match to a close.
Thus, Verdy’s unbeaten run from the start of the season came to a stop at ten matches and the team also conceded multiple goals for the first time. The match will no doubt feel all the more bitter due to the attacking momentum the players showed in the first half. However, it is still too early in the season to hang heads. Everyone was aware that the competition in J2 was too fierce to go through the season without defeat, and match after match awaits against strong opponents. It is up to the players to explore the reasons for today’s loss, prepare for the next match, and make the necessary growth as a team. This is especially true given the run of consecutive matches that awaits. Players, staff, supporters, and all who are involved with Tokyo Verdy, must believe that the team’s first loss will lead to progress later and come together this week for the Tokyo Derby.
Post-match comments
Manager Miguel Ángel Lotina
Your thoughts on the match?
I thought we played well in the first half. We created clear chances and, overall, had the most opportunities of any away game this year. We tried to continue taking the game to them at the start of the second half, but we conceded a goal. After that, they switched to a more defensive shape and were better able to absorb our pressure. From there, it became more difficult to create chances. Finally, we abandoned our organization to try and get a goal, but we ended up conceding the second goal on the counter.
You used all your substitutes quickly in the second half, as you attempted to revitalize the attack, but this seemed to gradually open a lot of gaps in your own shape.
Once it was clear that we could no longer create chances, I moved quickly to make the substitutions, but we were unable to change the momentum. One reason is that we were unable to commit 100% to the post-substitution plan. Taira and Alan, in particular, seemed to be struggling.
Why did you decide to substitute Taira for Kanya Fujimoto and what role did you ask from Fujimoto?
I wanted to bolster the attack. He has the ability to thread the defense or play balls in behind, so I wanted him to be aggressive and play that way.
MF 8Tatsuya Uchida
Your thoughts on the match?
Part of it is that they played very well and the other part comes down to us not getting a goal in the first half.
Did you sense anything that separated Omiya from the other teams in the league?
Our back line is capable of containing most players, but we couldn’t keep Simović in check today and they built their attack through him. Otherwise, I didn’t feel they were that big a threat in attack, but when they used him, it forced those of us in midfield and up front to back down. That enabled them to build a rhythm and it was different from other teams in J2.
This is the first time the team has given up multiple goals in a single match.
The goals we conceded today were clearly the result of individual mistakes, so I don’t think it will have that much of an effect on the next match. It was only that one opportunity and if we had held them to 0-0, I think we would have had a chance. All of us made mistakes, but I actually think it’s better that the reasons for the loss are so clear. I think a lot of mistakes piled on top of each other, today, such as no one covering in defense and Iba(yashi) losing out one on one. We haven’t been broken down like that by any other team in J2 and the manager also told us that there aren’t many in J2 who can play at that level. I think the fact that we couldn’t keep up with that is why we lost.
That was the longest period of time playing from behind that you’ve had this season.
t doesn’t change the things we have to do, but the second goal really hurt. Had we continued at 0-1, we would have had chances eventually, but after the second goal, things were really difficult.
How was the team’s attacking after giving up the first goal?
I do think we created chances, today, and even one goal would have made a difference. I feel sorry that they exploited the gap between those of us at the base of the midfield and the back line.
After they took the lead, they seemed to play with a more compact defensive shape. How did you approach breaking them down?
What we tried to do in attack was the same approach which gave us chances in the first half, but I knew that the first goal would prove important here at Omiya. They got it and that had a big impact on the match.
It took ten matches before the team suffered their first loss. How do you feel about the team’s performance so far?
I feel good about where we’re at. I don’t think there was that much of a gap between us and Omiya and if we had gotten the lead first, it could have been a completely different match. We never thought that we could go through the whole season undefeated, we knew we would lose somewhere, and we made clear mistakes. If we cut down on the number and nature of those mistakes, I think we can continue to grow.
Do you feel that mistakes haven’t affected the result in other matches, this year?
There have been mistakes, but we’ve gotten away with it because of the general quality in J2. By contrast, our opponents today only needed one opportunity to beat us. The loss should be a teaching moment that reminds us that there are teams in J2 that can do that. And of course, if we do get promoted to J1, almost every team will have the skills to win with one punch, so everyone needs to keep that awareness in the future.
MF 23Naoya Tamura
Your thoughts on the match?
For the first goal, I think it was less that we gave in to the pressure and more that Simović is very skilled. They created chances, but so did we in the first half. We just needed to finish.
The first goal also seemed to be the result of a simple diagonal pass that got through.
Had the back players not been drawn too far forward, it wouldn’t have been much of a problem. The manager had warned us about that, so it was wasteful on our part.
In terms of switching between attack and defense and attacking from the side, you seemed to break them down well in the first half.
We did well to create mismatches. Given how well were attacking, it’s a shame that we couldn’t finish.
After taking the lead, the opponent’s compact defense seemed to stifle any chances.
It was difficult to attack once they built a wall in the defense, but if we don’t develop enough strength to go forward and get a goal in those situations, it’s going to be difficult for us. That’s what we have to work on from here out.
Even with substitutions, you couldn’t seem to shift the momentum at the end.
That was definitely the case. I’m sure we all understood why those substitutions were made, but even if we couldn’t accomplish the mission, the coaches would have liked us to show more, in terms of changing our stance and fighting until the end. For me, personally, I think I should have pushed the other players to attack more after we went down 1-0.
This was the first time this season the team has given up multiple goals in a single match. How was the atmosphere afterward?
Each of us had something to think about, but there are a lot more matches to play. I definitely want us to win at home next game.
FW 11Ryohei Hayashi
It seemed like the team was playing with an excellent rhythm in the first half.
After they got the first goal, they were able to ride the momentum. I think it gave them confidence. In the first half, we had good momentum and we just needed a goal, but that’s football. We lost today, but we have a run of matches this week, so now we have to prepare to win the next match.
It seemed like you were able to get between the lines in midfield and link up the play well, today.
I did receive the ball many times in the gaps. I was also involved in goal scoring opportunities and I will do my best to actually get the goal next time.
Their goalkeeper, Kasahara, was a teammate of yours at Mito.
He’s a great goalkeeper. We had shots on target, today, but he made some brilliant saves to keep them out.
The team’s buildup play was particularly smooth in this match.
That’s something we always strive for and I think we accomplished it today. With that said, in competition there are winners and losers. We just need to shift gears and prepare with a positive attitude for the next match.
This was the first time that the team has given up multiple goals in a single match this season. How was the atmosphere, afterward?
With 42 matches, we’re going to lose at some point and that just happened to be today. I think that if we can learn something from the loss and incorporate that into our play, it won’t be a problem.
MF 20Shion Inoue
Your thoughts on the match?
We built some good moves in the first half, but because we couldn’t finish, they were able to take advantage of a single mistake in the second half. Things got difficult after that, or at the very least, we handed them the momentum, so it feels like a wasted opportunity.
You were able to receive the ball behind the strikers, today, and create some good buildup play in the first half.
We did a good job of having one of the forwards in the gap between their defenders at all times, which allowed us to attack from one side or the other. Our buildup was indeed smooth, but we didn’t have the strength, or the luck, to finish in the end.
You and Watanabe seemed to switch well, in terms of ball-side pressure and alternating between attack and defense.
I had figured that their holding midfielder would be the key player today and we were conscious of battling, but in the second half, we were tired and we couldn’t continue to press in that way. From there, they controlled the pace. I hope we become able to continue that kind of play for the full 90 minutes.
After taking the lead, your opponents parked the bus and made things difficult for you, didn’t they?
After they scored, they didn’t take too many risks in trying to get another goal. They had a lot of numbers in defense and from that, they were able to get a second goal on the counter. We hadn’t been behind in that kind of situation in any of the other matches this year. In the future, we have to get better at how we play when we’ve given away the lead.
Individually, it seemed like you were more conscious of taking shots yourself, today.
Yes, I was aware of that today and coming close doesn’t for much, so I hope I can become a player who scores from those chances.
This was the first time this season that the team has given up multiple goals in a single match. How was the atmosphere afterward?
Considering that we lost for the first time, the mood was not so bad. We know that there’s a long season ahead. We just have to share our understanding of what went wrong today throughout the whole team and shift gears in training to prepare for the next match.
Luckily, you have a run of home matches coming up.
A lot of different players will be used when we have a packed schedule like this, so I think it’s important that we all come together and play as a team. It’s a run of games at home, so I hope we can come away with a winning streak.
MF 35Kanya Fujimoto
What did you have in mind when you entered the match?
I wanted to break them down with a pass or play balls in behind. In defense, I was told to track back. In attack, I was told to play the ball into spaces that would be a nuisance for them to defend.
By the time you took the pitch, the opponents had tightened up and it was difficult to find space for a pass, wasn’t it?
They would form their defensive wall before we could put the ball in and we weren’t able to play direct balls, so we had to settle for recycling possession.
Except for the shot you had after entering the match, you didn’t have many opportunities to be involved in creating a finish.
They had a lot of time on the ball. We were losing out in defense, so we wanted to push up, but only the forwards were able to put pressure on their holding midfielders. Our midfielders couldn’t get forward and they took advantage of that. There’s always the risk of giving up a ball behind, but especially when you’re down a goal, it’s important to push forward and try to score.
At the end of the match, there seemed to be too much distance in the spacing between each player and you were on the backfoot in defense, as well.
Even when we won the ball, they were quick to drop back in defense and it seemed like there were three or four men marking each player. A lot of times, there were four men surrounding the ball and we would give it up. Once they won the ball in those situations, even if we tried to push forward and win it back, we would be up against four players. I think we were definitely more extended in our spacing.
What did you have in mind when you entered the match?
Of course I want to get goals, but I was playing as a wingback and it was difficult for me to cut too far inside. I think my job was to threaten them with crosses or chipped passes.
Compared to the first half, it seemed a struggle to retain the ball on the front line after Ryohei Hayashi was substituted.
Douglas was our only target at that point, so I think the other players needed to make more supporting runs once we played the ball in to him. I think that giving up the first goal really did affect the game.
This was the first time, this season, that the team has given up multiple goals in a single match. How was the atmosphere afterward?
We weren’t that down on ourselves. We have a run of matches coming up, so we just have to lift our mood and win for sure, next time. We don’t have many days to prepare, but there’s a lot of competition within the squad and we have to build up our condition, so we want to do as much as we can in training. We have two home games in a row coming up, so we’ll be at an advantage. The whole team is concentrated on getting three points from both of those matches.