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MATCH
Match Report
【Match Report】
Last week, Verdy emerged victorious from a match up against upper-table rivals Yokohama FC. This week, the opponents for their second home match in succession were relegation candidates Roasso Kumamoto. The team that took the pitch saw one change, as Naoya Tamura was dropped from the starting lineup after being subbed in the first-half the previous week, replaced on the right side by Masashi Wakasa. Other than that adjustment, it was the same squad that took the pitch.
As the opening whistle sounded, Verdy moved the ball patiently from back to front, gradually pushing into opposition territory. For their part, Kumamoto also did well to connect their passes after winning the ball and the end result was a back and forth affair. The first major event occurred in the 7th minute. Verdy moved the ball at the back, evading the opposition’s high press, only to lose it when Tatsuya Uchida dropped back in support, resulting in an easy mid-range shot by the opposition. Although Kamifukumoto seemed well placed to reach the ball in time, he was unable to catch it cleanly and the rebound spilled to the opposition for a tap in and early goal. At this point, Verdy appeared to have conceded the momentum after a series of mistakes, but their pushback would achieve results rather quickly. Pressing high up the pitch, Yong-jik Ri won the ball on the wide left and placed a pass to the center for Ryota Kajikawa. Kajikawa controlled the ball with his first touch and then hit a through pass that split the defense and set Yuhei Sato free in front of goal. Sato calmly eyed the position of the goal keeper and defenders before hitting a perfectly placed shot for the equalizer. Despite making an immediate comeback, Verdy would continue to make mistakes that prevented them from fully controlling the momentum. Their opponents saw plenty of the ball as a result, forcing the players to bide their time in defense as they absorbed the pressure. However, Kumamoto were also mistake prone and the first half ended with both teams having given up too much of the ball.
Verdy were the first team to make a move at the half. Ri was taken off for Izumisawa, with a simultaneous change in system. The shift in tactics would allow the team to finally wrest control of the momentum as the second half began. In the 49th minute, Douglas fired a mid-range shot that repelled off the cross bar. In the 53rd minute, Sato played a cross from the wide right that drifted to the far side and was controlled by Izumisawa, who then held the ball up for the running Yuta Narawa to fire with his first touch, only to see his effort roll straight to the goal keeper. Verdy continued to apply the pressure but were lacking in their finishing until the 57th minute, when their attacking play finally bore fruit. The ball was played by Sato from the wide left and received by Izumisawa in a deep position, drawing the defenders out of position and creating space for a one-two with Sato that set the forward free in the box. Izumisawa carried the ball to the by-line before playing a shallow cross in front of goal that Douglas was on hand to drive home and give Verdy the lead. In the 60th minute, the opposition threatened with a shot off the crossbar but the match otherwise proceeded at Verdy’s pace. It was Verdy’s turn in the 62nd minute, as Izumisawa received the ball on the short corner and burst straight into fifth gear on the byline, only to see his touch deflected by the goal keeper. Izumisawa initiated the play once again in the 66th minute, with Narawa and Douglas joining in and Sato ending the move with a direct shot from just outside the penalty area. However, the effort went wide right of goal. In the 69th minute, Verdy broke down the defense from the left once again, as Fujimoto laid off Narawa’s cross to Douglas and then hit a fierce left footed shot off the return pass that drew a hand ball in the box, giving Verdy a penalty kick. It was the perfect opportunity to stretch the team’s lead but unfortunately, Douglas would have his spot kick saved by the goal keeper. The failure would now tilt the momentum to the opposition. The Kumamoto attack came from the wide areas and although the Verdy players defended well against crosses into the box, a momentary lapse would occur in the 78th minute. A desperate shot from the opposition was deflected by the defenders but the second ball fell to an unmarked Kumamoto player in front of goal. One on one with Kamifukumoto, the opposing player kept their cool and rolled the ball into the back of the net to bring the score level once more.
The final moments of the match were an open affair. Verdy brought on Leandro to push forward for one last offensive burst, but they were unable to create any further clear chances and were often pushed back into their own area, preventing them from earning the win. With Verdy facing steep competition on points as they climb up the table, today’s result sees their winning streak end at an inopportune time and brings the team down to earth once again. Though the draw moves them into fourth place, they failed to close the gap on the leaders. Only nine matches remain. The team’s fortunes could still turn upside down at a moment’s notice. Neutrals will keep an eye on the results achieved by their rivals in the table, but for Verdy, their stance remains unchanged – every match is a must win. They cannot afford to let their disappointment with the day’s results drag them down and must immediately begin preparations for the next away match against FC Gifu.
Post-match comments
Manager Miguel Ángel Lotina
Your thoughts on the match?
We did not play well in the first half. We completed our passes when we moved the ball in our area, but we didn’t threaten the opposition when we had the ball in their area. They took the lead and we were fortunate to end the half at 1-1. In the second half, Jin (Izumisawa) came on and our play improved, resulting in a goal. We also had a chance to get a third. After failing at that, they equalized and in the end, both teams played for the three points. I think both sides had a chance to win and a draw is probably a fair result.
What were you hoping to accomplish by bringing Izumisawa on and what elements do you think improved after he took the pitch? Also, please elaborate on the reasons for having Ryota Kajikawa and Yuhei Sato switch sides.
The objective was for us to retain the ball, move up the pitch, and control the game within their half. In that sense, I think the change worked well. As to your second question, we changed systems in the second half. Originally, Yong-jik (Ri) had been playing in front of Kaji(hara), so with the substitution, I thought we would have better balance by switching personnel on the left and right.
MF 6Jin Izumisawa
What instructions did you receive before taking the pitch?
In terms of my positioning, I was told to try to stretch them wide.
Tell us about your assist.
Douglas made a good run, so all I had to do was feed him the ball. I’m truly glad it led to a goal.
What are your thoughts on the match as a whole?
We couldn’t score and as a result, we only got a point from the match. It’s very disappointing. We have to achieve clear results and I think that if the players do that on an individual level, that will lead naturally to better results for the team. I think we were lacking in the power to get that one last goal after the score went to 2-2, today.
After taking the lead, it seemed like the team dropped back a bit.
Every match, it seems like we have a tendency to be pushed back after taking the lead. We’re lacking in the strength on the counter necessary to change the momentum in those situations. It’s difficult to make the front two do all the work and I feel we’re lacking in individual ability.
The team seemed a bit sluggish in the first half. How did things look from the bench?
I think we had too many players dropping deep. We had been told that they would play with a high line, but I don’t think we had anyone willing to make runs behind the defense or play the ball in those areas. I also think we were too content to simply pass the ball back and forth.
What did you have in mind when you entered the match?
I wanted to stretch their defense from the wide areas. The forwards were being given a lot of space, so I wanted to attack them from the side.
MF 38Ryota Kajikawa
What was the reason that you were no longer able to make passes to the front line after the mid-point of the first half?
The defense were focusing heavily on cutting off the passing lanes for me and the others in that area of the pitch. That was something we knew they would do from before the match began, so we wanted to avoid falling into the traps they laid, but we made some mistakes tactically. It wasn’t so much that we didn’t combine well, but more that when we make mistakes, that encourages the opposition to believe they can win the ball and gives them greater energy. I think our inability to play around their press was the reason we struggled.
You seemed to move the ball more smoothly in the second half.
For our opponents as well, I think continuing with that kind of intense pressing will wear you out physically and we gradually began to have more time on the ball. I also think Jin (Izumisawa)’s ability to make solo runs at the defense helped us to gradually improve the momentum. With that said, today’s match was one that we really needed to win and I do wonder if we had grown a little complacent and thought that we could get the goal we needed at any time. We have to use this match as a lesson and be strict with eachother in training so we can build the mindset that there are no easy matches, no matter what team we are playing.
The team failed to convert another penalty today and it seemed to effect the play afterward. Do you think the players grew more conscious of just trying to see out the match and gave up on getting a third goal?
No, I don’t think we had that in mind. We had been playing well and if we had the chance, we really wanted to get the third goal to finish them off. However, our philosophy is always to manage risks as we play and while the goal we gave up was an accident in some aspects, I don’t think that would have happened if we had shown more determination to fight for the ball. I think the problem was on our end. It wasn’t as if they were throwing everything at us in attack and they were actually moving the ball at the back a lot. In the end, they would always play it forward to their front two, but we dealt with that pretty well. We were never really broken down and instead, they beat us by winning the physical battle for the second ball. In that sense, we wasted a good result.
MF 16Yuhei Sato
Your thoughts on the match?
That was the first time we’d given up an early goal in that fashion and while we’d never had to come back in that situation, we began defending well and made a good attacking move, even if it was on the counter, with four or more players involved and I thought it was an excellent goal. We began positively in the second half as well and were able to take the lead. The equalizer we gave up was an unlucky one in some ways, but with our team, extending our lead has a stabilizing effect across the whole team, so I’d like us to improve our ability to score when we have the chance.
Given how out of sorts the team looked after giving up the opener, it really was a wonderful, fluid goal.
We’ve developed the ability to press in those situations and ended up doing so in good positions high up the pitch. We had a lot of chances to attack from those positions. I think that was true of the goal as well.
Did the goal develop as you imagined?
I was able to get my head up and watch the keeper, so all I had to do was aim for the open space. The pass from Kaji(hara) was excellent and I was able to hit the ball without slowing it down.
Tell us about your pass to Izumisawa that led to the second goal.
I almost gave up on making that pass but the two defenders in front of me had backed off, so I thought a direct ball might have a chance of getting through. Of course, a lot of it is owed to Jin (Izumisawa)’s speed but I also took advantage of a lapse in the defense.
You’ve been able to break teams down more, lately, by getting more players involved in the attack.
We no longer rely just on simple crosses and there have been a greater number of times where we get the ball in deep positions and combine to break them down. It might only happen once or twice a match, but if we can do it more and more, it will contribute to the image we hold as a team. Sharing that image among players is something that we only do through game time, so I’m happy we were able to do it today.
Do you have any further thoughts on the importance of continuing to score and extend your leads?
If we want to become a team that not only controls the ball after taking the lead but is also confident enough to build on that lead, then I think we first need to improve our ability to finish when we have those chances. That will lend confidence to our defense as well. We know we have the ability to frustrate teams in defense and the greater our lead, the more we can concentrate on that, so getting goals will have a positive effect on our defense as well.
MF 8Tatsuya Uchida
Your thoughts on the match?
Personally, I thought we were terrible in the first half. I don’t know whether my own play was a bad influence, but I think everyone played badly. Kaji(hara) also had an off day and in the first half, I felt that when the central players don’t play smoothly, the team itself won’t play smoothly. It felt like we were making too many mistakes. I don’t think their defense was particularly strong, it was just that our mistakes stood out.
You seemed pretty disappointed after the final whistle.
Kumamoto are a good team with clever players, but I didn’t feel like they were that big a threat. In the second half, it felt like our attack was stronger than their defense and I just thought the result was a big waste.
You made some changes to the system in the second half.
We didn’t change our approach, but we did adjust our positioning. I feel that did make things easier for me. In the second half, we got higher positions and it felt like the distance between Kaji(hara), Yuhei, and myself was shortened, so I think that had a big effect.
In attack, it seems like you’ve played a greater emphasis on achieving a good balance between left and right.
That started in the mid-point of this year. For us players in the center, as well, we make an effort to spread the ball left and right.
It felt like the team backed off after taking the lead.
No, I don’t think that’s true. We were trying to get the third goal. We won a penalty and if we had converted, it would have been a whole different result. It wasn’t so much that we backed off, but just that we naturally end up absorbing attacks when we ‘re winning. I personally don’t feel like we backed off at all. It’s not like it’s unavoidable that the match develops that way, but we need to build the power to push back. With that said, we did have a chance to get the third goal today. We just needed to convert. Our approach to our play is not bad but we did let them catch us in the end, so I think we have a lot of work to do in order to become a truly strong team.
DF 2Masashi Wakasa
This was your first league appearance in a while.
I didn’t feel that much of a blank and I was fairly comfortable integrating into the match.
In the first half, you played on the right side of a back three and in the second half, you played at right back.
I think the change in how we lined up enabled us to pass the ball more smoothly in the second half. Individually, I didn’t feel that much difficulty in attack, but I was a bit unsure in my defensive positioning. I think communicating with Kanya (Fujimoto) helped me to adjust.
I imagine the way you lined up in the first half was meant to deal with the opposition’s front two?
I concentrated on alternating between challenging and covering, while making sure to communicate with Ibayashi.
You had a big chance yourself at the end of the match, although you ended up being flagged for offside.
I have to apologize for that one. We didn’t have much time left, so I just tried to get forward. In the past, when I’ve scored, people have always reacted by saying “what were you doing up there?”, so I knew that if I got in that position, the ball would come. Next time, I want to properly get on the end of the pass.
Do you feel that your strength in attack is one of your weapons as a defender?
At that point the match, I was playing as a side back and not a center back, so sometimes I do try to join the attack. With no time remaining, I wanted to get a goal and earn us the full three points. In the first half as well, I thought that by making overlapping runs, I could help Kanya (Fujimoto) exploit his strengths. It doesn’t matter whether he chooses to use me or not, but today he did. Next, I just need to improve the accuracy of my centering.
When the score reached 2-2, it felt like the match became an unusually open one.
It did feel like our attack became too simplistic. When the match ended, I couldn’t help but wonder if we could have increased our time on the ball. I don’t know whether we were rushing things too much in attack, overall, but we have to do a better job of controlling the play.